Strike Hits Libraries Across Catalonia

All public and mobile libraries in Catalonia are affected by a one-day strike on Friday 18 September 2026, called by trade unions Intersindical and CGT. The industrial action involves staff across the region and coincides with a broader campaign of protest days set for October 16, November 13, and December 11. A demonstration is scheduled outside the Catalan Association of Municipalities (ACM) headquarters in Barcelona, where workers will demand improvements in working conditions from the Library Consortium and local authorities.

Core Demands: Hours, Pay, Safety

Library staff are calling for an end to rotating shifts that run Monday to Sunday, split shifts lasting up to 11 hours with two-hour breaks, and late finishes at 8:45 PM. They estimate these patterns result in an average of 18 extra workdays per year compared to a standard five-day week. They also demand a specific salary supplement for direct public service, citing their role in helping users with medical appointments, unemployment claims, and social aid, tasks they say go far beyond traditional library duties. On safety, employees report feeling "abandoned" during incidents of verbal and physical aggression. They are calling for a formal incident reporting protocol and dedicated support.

No negotiation is taking place," union representatives told municipal commissions recently, despite 13 meetings since February.

Negotiations between the Barcelona City Council and workers have been deadlocked for months. Unions claim no meetings occurred between June and early September and accuse the council of withdrawing assembly and union organisation time from July onward, a move seen as increasing pressure on staff. The works council has taken the Library Consortium to court after it stopped applying parts of the current collective agreement, including social and union-related benefits. At a conciliation hearing on 8 September, the Consortium opposed the legal challenge but agreed to resume negotiations.

National-Level Demands

Beyond Barcelona, library workers across Catalonia are demanding:

  • A stronger territorial management structure to reduce bureaucratic burdens on individual libraries
  • An updated Public Reading Map of Catalonia based on real demographic and cultural data
  • Revised staffing and equipment standards reflecting actual community needs
  • Professional recognition for Auxiliary Library Technicians
  • A sector-wide collective agreement
  • Joint responsibility among the Generalitat, Provincial Councils, and city councils for a national public reading strategy

The dispute began in April 2026 with protests during Sant Jordi week, followed by Saturday partial strikes. An indefinite strike was launched in Barcelona on 26 May due to unresolved grievances. While initial actions closed up to 90% of city libraries, unions later scaled back to allow individual participation. This Friday’s strike marks the first coordinated day of industrial action across the entire region.

Reported by 3cat.cat, 3CatInfo Barcelona.