Employees of the cleaning service in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have decided to suspend the strike that was set to begin on July 31, following the municipality's commitment to open dialogue on the management model.
The staff of the Municipal Cleaning Service of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has called off the strike that was scheduled for next Friday, July 31. The decision was made in an assembly held on July 16, where the workers chose to give a vote of confidence to the municipal government in light of its commitment to initiate a dialogue process in the coming months.
The conflict arose when the municipality announced its intention to unilaterally create a public cleaning company, as reported by the workers' representatives. The strike committee stated that the staff does not oppose changing the legal status of the service, but advocates for direct management through a technical unit, similar to the model already functioning in Parks and Gardens. The municipal government, on the other hand, believes that a public company is the best way to modernise cleaning and expedite bureaucratic procedures.
The strike committee expressed its disappointment at feeling excluded from the process, but positively valued the involvement of the Mayor's cabinet, represented by its deputy, Yeray López, and the Cleaning Councillor, Héctor Alemán. "It has been decided to give them a vote of confidence and not continue punishing the citizens," the committee stated. They also thanked the support of opposition political groups, such as Coalición Canaria, Partido Popular, Vox, and Podemos, the latter being part of the municipal government.
The dialogue tables are scheduled until December, although they could be extended until March 2027. "This situation needs to be resolved, and we have the opportunity to actively express our opinions to decide the future of the service," the committee affirmed. However, they warned that there is still no definitive agreement and criticised the City Council for presenting what was signed on June 23 in a draft minutes as an agreement, when their signatures only reflected attendance. The final minutes, signed on July 8, do include the commitment to organise the dialogue tables.
The workers also raised the shortcomings that the service faces: lack of personnel and materials, and difficulties in advancing tenders and files. "Resources need to be managed well, we have many shortcomings, the service cannot be provided as the citizens of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria deserve," they reflected. Despite everything, they showed good faith, "but with caution," waiting to see how the dialogue process evolves.
The call-off is a relief for the residents of the capital, who were facing a new strike in the middle of summer. Now, the focus shifts to the dialogue tables that will define the future management model of cleaning in the city.
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