In Barcelona, a lifeguard strike has been ongoing for nearly two weeks, coinciding with a period of extreme heat. A yellow flag is in effect on city beaches, and the number of staff on duty has been cut in half. All lifeguard stations remain closed, raising concerns among residents and tourists.
On Monday, dozens of lifeguards once again gathered outside the office of the Socialist Party of Catalonia in Poblenou to draw the city authorities’ attention to their demands. The workers are calling for a separate collective agreement, an extended work season, expanded staffing, and improved equipment and resources.
Negotiations between lifeguard representatives, the CGT union, and FCC Medio Ambiente, the company servicing the beaches, have so far yielded no results. The latest proposal from the city council, presented by Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet, was deemed insufficient by the lifeguards. They argue that it does not address longstanding issues that have persisted since last year, when the workforce went on strike against the previous contractor.
The parties are currently awaiting a new meeting, but no date has been set yet. Although some employees are open to compromise, the majority continue to insist on their demands. City authorities have proposed to extend the seasonal employment by one week — from May 30 to September 13, which amounts to three and a half months. However, the lifeguards are demanding that the season run from May 1 to September 30, a full five months, which would give them 246 working days instead of the current 172.
In the off-season, the team is seeking to increase the staff to 40 people, while currently there are 30. City Hall is prepared to raise this number only to 34, and in the high season — to 52 employees. The lifeguards believe that these measures do not provide adequate safety levels on the beaches, especially given the influx of visitors and high temperatures.
Over the past two weeks, protesters have staged a series of actions, including raising the red flag along the entire Barcelona shoreline to highlight the risks to beachgoers. Despite this, strike committee representatives stated they do not intend to escalate the protests, but they will not abandon their demands either.
The CGT union has also drawn attention to the unresolved issue of debt left over from the previous beach service contract. According to their data, the debt amounts to about 100,000 euros, and the lifeguards are demanding clarification from City Hall on this matter.
Workers emphasize that their role is not limited to monitoring swimmers. They work to prevent accidents not only in the water, but also on the streets adjacent to the beaches. According to them, the professional training of lifeguards is highly valued among emergency medical service specialists, and staff cuts could negatively impact the safety of beachgoers.
With ongoing heat and large crowds on the beaches, the issue of ensuring safety remains unresolved. Lifeguards believe that responsibility for the situation now lies with local authorities and urge the city government to find a real solution that would restore the full operation of the service and guarantee protection for all visitors.
