Gadis is suing four unions and eight union leaders for €1.2 million, citing damages from a June strike in A Coruña. The move has sparked strong reactions from labor groups, who call the claim an attack on the right to strike.
Gadis, one of Galicia's largest supermarket chains, has filed a lawsuit demanding €1.2 million from four unions and eight union representatives, alleging financial damages caused by a four-day strike in June. The legal action targets CIG, CCOO, UGT, and USO, along with members of the strike committee, following industrial action that disrupted supermarkets and logistics centers in A Coruña province. The strike, held from June 21 to 24, coincided with the busy San Xoán festivities, a period marked by high demand in the food retail sector.
The unions involved have publicly condemned the lawsuit, describing it as an attempt to intimidate workers and undermine the right to strike. They argue that the strike was peaceful and legally sanctioned, with no incidents reported during the stoppage. According to union representatives, the scale of police presence during the strike was unprecedented, with significant deployment of Guardia Civil units at key logistics sites, particularly in Betanzos.
Gadisa, the parent company of Gadis, insists that its legal claim does not challenge the right to strike itself. Instead, the company says the courts must determine whether any actions during the industrial action exceeded lawful protest and, if so, whether compensation is warranted. Gadisa has not specified which incidents it believes justify the €1.2 million claim, maintaining that the figure reflects an initial assessment of the losses incurred.
The dispute arises amid ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement in the food retail sector. Unions are pressing for better pay and working conditions for the 17,000 employees in A Coruña's food retail industry, where most staff earn just over €18,000 annually and often work variable hours, including weekends. The June strike saw strong participation, effectively halting operations at Gadis and other major chains, though only Gadis has pursued legal action.
On Monday, union representatives gathered outside the Sección de Mediación, Arbitraxe e Conciliación (SMAC) in A Coruña for a mandatory conciliation meeting, which ended without agreement. As a result, the case will proceed to court. Union leaders have labeled Gadisa's demands as irrational and have pledged not to be intimidated by the legal proceedings. Further strikes are planned for the coming weekend, signaling continued unrest in the sector.
Gadisa is a major economic force in Galicia, with annual revenues exceeding €1.6 billion and a workforce of nearly 9,000 across 480 stores in Galicia, Asturias, Castilla y León, and Madrid. The company is part of Grupo Tojeiro, which also owns Reganosa, operator of the Ferrol gas terminal. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for labor relations in Spain's retail sector, where tensions over pay and conditions remain high. The case highlights the delicate balance between business interests and workers' rights, especially during periods of intense commercial activity.
