Barcelona’s Sindicatura de Greuges (Ombudsman) has issued a formal statement criticising the breakdown in negotiations between public library staff and the Barcelona City Council and the Library Consortium. The intervention, reported on Thursday 22nd October 2026, marks a new institutional escalation in a labour conflict now in its fifth month.
Library workers have been on indefinite strike since 26th May 2026, demanding the restoration of labour rights, pay increases, and improved working hours to support work-life balance. The Sindicatura de Greuges expressed concern over the consequences of the stalled dialogue for both working conditions and the quality of public library services, according to the collective Defensem Biblios Bcn.
The ombudsman’s resolution comes amid continued industrial action. On Friday 16th October, a strike led by the CGT union resulted in the closure of 20 library branches in the morning and 30 in the afternoon, severely limiting public access.
The improvement of working conditions is closely linked to the quality of the public service received by users,
said Defensem Biblios Bcn, which represents library staff.
Political Pressure Mounts
On Tuesday 6th October, an extraordinary plenary session convened by opposition parties Junts, Barcelona en Comú, and ERC passed a motion criticising the municipal government’s lack of negotiation willingness. The motion, published in the official records of the session (Ajuntament.barcelona.cat), called on Mayor Jaume Collboni to urgently convene a negotiation table with the library works council.
It also demanded the withdrawal of criminal and administrative complaints against striking workers. The resolution passed with votes from the three opposition groups, while the PSC voted against and PP and Vox abstained.
Unresolved Demands
Union representatives have repeatedly accused the council of failing to engage meaningfully. A scheduled negotiation meeting on Monday 28th September was cancelled by the administration just one hour before it was due to begin, following more than two months without formal talks.
The workers’ demands extend beyond pay. They include better scheduling to support family life, the restoration of union rights, and the protection of public service standards. According to the Intersindical and CGT unions, the dispute reflects a broader erosion of municipal services.
Next Steps
Library staff across Catalonia are due to hold a remote assembly on Monday 26th October to decide on future actions, including possible participation in a general strike on Wednesday 11th November. The Sindicatura de Greuges’ intervention adds pressure on the council to resume talks before the dispute deepens further.
Sources: llibertat.cat, barna.news.
