Tenerife Hotel Workers Strike Ahead of Easter Weekend Disruptions

The Canary Islands' hotel staff are mobilizing for strikes amid growing frustrations over their working conditions and compensation, impacting holiday plans for thousands.

Holidaymakers traveling to Tenerife this Easter weekend should brace themselves for major disruptions, as local hotel workers initiate strikes over pay and working conditions. The industrial action is taking place on Thursday and Friday, coinciding with the busy Easter bank holiday.

Originally planned to encompass all Canary Islands, the strike was limited to Tenerife after an agreement was reached in areas including Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. Approximately 80,000 workers across Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro are set to participate in the strike, according to union representatives.

In light of the situation, the UK Foreign Office has issued a warning for travelers, advising them to stay informed through their tour operators and adhere to local authorities' guidance. While strikers must guarantee a "minimum service" by law, the Comisiones Obreras union, which organized the strike, asserts that key services such as cleaning, food provision, and entertainment don’t qualify as critical. They argue that any attempt to impose minimum service requirements infringes upon their right to strike.

Protesters like Fernando Cambon Solino, who relocated to Tenerife for work, highlighted the disparity between tourists enjoying the island's beauty and the struggles of local workers. Another protestor, journalist Rodrigo Padilla, shared his concerns for his mother, who endures long commutes as a waitress, noting that the issues at stake revolve around inadequate pay and working conditions.

This strike is rooted in broader discontent sparked by last year's protests on the Spanish mainland and the Canary Islands concerning mass tourism. Locals argue that the tourist industry, constituting 35% of the Canaries' economy, has led to soaring housing costs that threaten their livelihoods. They are advocating for a more sustainable tourism model that addresses environmental impacts, like water shortages, while alleviating financial pressures on housing.