Barcelona lifeguards call off strike after reaching agreement with city council

Barcelona lifeguards ended their indefinite strike on Thursday after reaching an agreement with the city council.

After 27 days of industrial action, the protesting workers secured improvements to their working conditions that met their key demands.

The deal provides 26 additional working days in the low season and more staff, while in the bathing season, working days will increase by 21.

This arrangement will ensure that lifeguard cabins are fully staffed from the third weekend of May and throughout the summer weekends.

The strike, organized by the CGT union, was aimed at securing a collective labour agreement, reducing job instability, and implementing previously agreed measures.

The workers had demanded more staff and an extension of lifeguard services during the bathing season, which would provide greater professional stability.

They also argued that, given their current salaries and the high cost of living in Barcelona, their seasonal job was “unsustainable.”

The city council welcomed the resolution of the conflict.

Fifth deputy mayor Raquel Gil said the agreement not only restores the service but also “strengthens and consolidates it.”

According to the council, the new measures will carry an additional cost of €300,000, on top of the current €2.5 million the service already requires.