Strike to Escalate Tensions in Abattoirs

Tension is building in Catalonia's slaughterhouses as veterinary inspection assistants have decided to join a planned strike by meat industry workers from Monday 9th November to Friday 13th November. The move could bring operations at the facilities to a near-standstill, according to sector sources. The assistants’ decision was made at an assembly held in November, where they agreed to participate in the industrial action as part of their own campaign strategy. Their primary demand is the inclusion of mandatory worker subrogation in the new public contract for veterinary inspection services, currently being tendered by the Generalitat’s Department of Health.

Workers Demand Subrogation Rights

The assistants insist that any new company awarded the contract must legally inherit existing staff, a provision not currently included in the tender documents. They have repeatedly requested a moratorium on the procurement process until the new meat industry collective agreement is finalised, arguing that subrogation is likely to be included in that agreement. Employers’ associations and trade unions appear to agree on this point, but the Department of Health has refused to delay the tender. In a meeting last week with representatives of the assistants, officials stated that postponement would require an emergency extension of the current contract, which expires at the end of December 2026. The department warned that such emergency measures have been used frequently in the past and should not be overused.

  • The strike is scheduled for 9th–13th November 2026
  • It affects veterinary inspection assistants across Catalonia
  • The current service provider is Agrifood, which holds all contracts
  • The new tender limits a single company to two of four regional lots

Union Warns Against Using Veterinarians as Strikebreakers

There is growing concern that veterinarians may be asked to cover the duties of striking assistants during the industrial action. However, CCOO’s Industry Federation in Catalonia has issued a statement declaring that such a move would be illegal.

Veterinarians cannot assume the tasks of striking assistants.

The union cited rulings by Spain’s Constitutional Court, which prohibit internal strikebreaking, the practice of using non-striking staff to undermine the impact of industrial action. CCOO stressed that veterinarians have no legal obligation to perform the work of striking assistants and that any superior order to do so would be null and void. The union said it will monitor all slaughterhouses to ensure compliance.

Next Steps Depend on Negotiations

A mass turnout by assistants is expected unless a preliminary agreement on subrogation is reached in the coming days. Without such a deal, the assistants may call a separate strike later to press their demands. For now, their participation in the existing strike significantly raises pressure on both the Generalitat and the meat industry.

Sources: Crónica Global.