Latest news with #UGT
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits face summer of rolling chaos on 12 Spanish holiday islands
British holidaymakers face potential strike action in popular tourist destinations this summer as unions threaten a number of walkouts due to a row over wages Holidaymakers face disruption on 12 Spanish holiday islands this summer as workers threaten to hold a series of strikes. Spanish hotel bosses have proposed substantial wage increases for their staff, but unions have rejected the offer, threatening disruptive strikes this summer that could impact thousands of British holidaymakers. Union leaders in the Balearic Islands are vowing "several days of strikes" in July and worker protests from the end of this month unless their pay demands are met. Meanwhile, in Tenerife and three other Canary Islands, British tourists have been warned to brace themselves for potential chaos this summer if hotel workers follow through with their threat to strike every Friday during July and August. The likelihood of walkouts in both popular holiday destinations has increased as employers raised their pay offers, only to be dismissed by union leaders who labelled the proposed rises as "crumbs." The Canary Islands are made up of eight main islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Graciosa. The Balearic Islands number 151 in total, but the big four workers will likely target with strikes are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. At the same time as works threaten to strike over industrial disputes, overtourism protesters are planning to hit the streets in holiday hotspots across Spain. Grassroots union members staged protests outside two hotels in southern Tenerife on Tuesday to protest against the Ashotel employers' association's "blocking" of a 6.5% wage increase before the negotiation of a new hospitality agreement. Hotel chiefs in the Balearic Islands upped a wage rise proposal already on the table to 9.5 per cent over three years - but were warned to expect a 'no' from worker representatives set to demand more than double that at a crucial meeting this afternoon. UGT union spokesman Jose Garcia Relucio described the offer ahead of the meeting as "more crumbs" and claimed hotel bosses wanted their workers to survive on tips. READ MORE: Little-known airport rule could see Brits slapped with £1,000 fine Further south, the prospect of strike action this summer seems more likely after a lukewarm response from unions to a proposed 13.5 per cent pay rise over three years by hotel association Ashotel. Late yesterday, Ashotel unveiled its new wage increase proposals, which would impact over 33,000 workers in Tenerife and the islands of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. The statement read: "This increase is broken down as follows: seven per cent in the first year from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and the remaining 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028." A representative for the hotel association added, describing a previous Easter hotel strike in the area as "unfair": "Ashotel has always been open to negotiate, even with a collective agreement in force until 2026 and with a strike held at Easter, which it considers was unfair." Union members are scheduled to vote on potential strike action next Monday in Tenerife and the western Canary Islands. If they proceed, the first strike is slated for July 4, followed by further industrial action every Friday for the remainder of July and August. Unions are also planning to stage protests outside hotel entrances. During the last strike in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, union representatives highlighted that the tourism subsector depends on an increasingly precarious workforce, with exhausting workdays, insufficient wages for a decent living, and conditions that directly impact the physical and mental health of workers. "They talk a lot about tourism excellence, about how we are a leading destination, but they don't talk about the conditions endured by the workers who keep this sector alive. It's over; it's time to recognise and value the role we play, and that must be reflected in a fair agreement," stated José Tomás Ramos, a member of the negotiating table for the Provincial Hospitality Collective Agreement in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the UGT (Union of Workers' Unions).
Irish Examiner
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Desire Lines: Pippa's new tan, refillable perfume, and M&S's new summer collection
The tan It's hard to believe, but Pippa O'Connor Ormond's POCO beauty only launched in late 2023. The brand launched with its multi-purpose serum/primer, Universal Glow Treatment. It's become such an iconic product, many now simply refer to it as UGT. When you've got an acronym, you know you're winning... The brand has just entered the tanning market with a collection of skincare-infused tanning mousses, €28, bolstered with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide and a gradual tanner, €25. The mousses are available in two shades, Deep Honey (10% DHA) and Classic Honey (8% DHA). Quick-drying, it delivers an even, streak-free tan with great staying power. We're in love. The coffee Nespresso's latest 2025 collection is out. A playful, retro colour pop, it's a nostalgic step back in time to summers past. Limited edition machines and accessories are soaked in soft yet vibrant tones. Try the new Pistachio Vanilla Over Ice — a coffee crafted to be enjoyed chilled. Iced Coffee Capsules: from €6.50; Vertuo Pop Machines: from €99. The festival Night and Day festival. Picture: Cián Flynn With acts like José González, KT Tunstall and Lisa Hannigan confirmed for Roscommon's Night and Day festival, punters have plenty to look forward to on June 27-29. And if it coincides with your period, you can rest easy in the knowledge that the festival has teamed up with The Period Fairies, who will provide free sanitary tampons and pads with two portaloos decked out with mirrors, fairy lights and wet wipes, to make the experience that little bit easier. Weekend adult tickets €185 including camping tickets, with children's tickets costing €2. Day tickets are also on sale now; Friday, €55, Saturday and Sunday, €88 each. The perfume Zadig & Voltaire have launched a new fragrance, ZADIG, from €73 for 30ml Zadig & Voltaire has just launched a delicious new eau de parfum for women. A floral, woody fragrance, the base blends sensual roasted vanilla and creamy sandalwood with top notes of orange blossom. The striking wing-shaped bottle will stand out on any vanity. And, it's refillable! ZADIG, the fragrance, is available at select Brown Thomas stores, Arnotts Beauty Hall and from pharmacies nationwide, from €73 for 30ml. The garden aid Nourish – The Caragh Nurseries Garden. Picture: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2025 Fresh from their stunning Nourish showcase at Bloom with Leonie Cornelius, Caragh Nurseries has launched Garden Stories, a new concept bringing plants together in themed collections designed to grow over time. From The Sunshine Story to The Wild Wellbeing, each pack is ready to plant. Starting at €300, each pack includes a detailed planting guide. The top Flower bandeau top, €78. Bikini bottoms, €20. Earrings, €26. Marks and Spencer From crochet co-ords to shell-inspired jewellery, metallic sandals and delicate bow tops, there's lots to love in Marks and Spencer's new summer collection. We have our eye on this striking flower bandeau top, €78. In stores now. The book Anna Carey's latest book, Our Song, is the ultimate summer read. A love story for the ages, it tells the story of Laura, a woman who used to have big dreams of a music career and gave up. Until her successful songwriting partner contacts her out of the blue to complete the song they never finished. A beautiful read. Compiled by Vickie Maye, Nicole Glennon and Jillian Bolger, weekend@
Local Spain
04-06-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
Spain to spend €39 million on metal health to help suffering workforce
Health The Spanish government has approved new funding for mental healthcare as new data shows that mental health leave among the country's workforce has spiralled by 175 percent since the pandemic, costing taxpayers €15 billion a year. The Spanish cabinet on Tuesday announced that it would spend €39 million in order to strengthen mental healthcare treatment availability in public hospitals. It also approved another €17.83 million for the implementation of suicide prevention measures, in line with Spain's Mental Health Action Plan 2025-2027 and the Suicide Prevention Plan 2025-2027. Mental health cover is one of the biggest gaps in the public health system in Spain and it seems though people are suffering because of this. According to the latest data from the 2023 National Health System Annual Report, 34 percent of the Spanish population has some form of mental health issue. According to the Ministry of Health, the most common mental health problem is anxiety which affects 6.7 percent of the population with public health cover. Depression is seen in 4.1 percent of the population and increases with age, while sleep disorders affect 5.4 percent of the population and also increases with age. Psychoses overall affects 1.2 percent, while dementia is recorded in 3.2 percent of the population aged 60 and over. The number of workers on sick leave has continued to rise since the pandemic and particularly mental health leave has risen by 175 percent. The cost for the health authorities has continued to skyrocket. Public spending as a result of these absences amounts to around €15 billion per year and has increased by almost 80 percent since the pandemic, while the direct impact on businesses has grown by 62 percent, to €4.6 billion. Particularly worrying is the incidence among young people, which has doubled in recent years. Spaniards are also the world's biggest consumers of anti-anxiety medication and the EU's largest consumers of psychiatric or psychotropic medication, which includes antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, stimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilisers. According to the latest r eport from the Bank of Spain, 4.4 percent of workers are currently on sick leave and in 2019 it was only 2.7 percent. In total, more than 1.5 million people are on temporary disability. This is equivalent to half of the public administration. Patricia Ruiz, Secretary of Occupational Health for Spanish trade union UGT explains that, 'Stress, depression, anxiety' are the worst culprits. According to the data, incidence among those under 35 is striking. 'Mental health issues have increased by 325 percent in young people' she warns. The UGT have criticised the system saying "There's no follow-up, no attention to their ailments. It's just like they're waiting to go through a formality'. Long waiting lists in public healthcare have also made the situation worse. Yolanda Díaz, Minister of Labour, acknowledges that waiting lists are very long. "It also has to do with mental health. We live in stressed societies', and we have "aging" labour markets she explains. The hope is that by spending money on increasing health programmes and the medical professionals to deal with these issues, less people will suffer and need to go on leave from work. See Also
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Brits face holiday hotspot hell as bar staff in Tenerife send ultimatum to bosses or vow they will strike in peak season
BRITS chasing the sun this summer could face fresh holiday hell as bar staff prepare to strike during peak season. It comes after 80,000 employees took to the streets in Tenerife earlier in the year demanding better pay and working conditions. 6 6 6 In a move that could spark chaos for Brits travelling to Tenerife this summer, union bosses said industrial action could start as early as July. The unions, Sindicalistas de Base and UGT, have issued bosses with an ultimatum, warning of a major walk out if they are not granted a 6.5 per cent salary bump. They have made it clear that no further negotiations will happen if these conditions are not met. This isn't the first time Tenerife has been at the centre of sweeping industrial action. Last month, cleaners and restaurant workers in the sunny hotspot took to the streets after deeming an offer from their employer not acceptable. The tourism employers' association, formed by Ashotel and AERO, had offered a four per cent increase in pay for workers, hoping it would prevent them from protesting during the Easter holidays. But unions wanted 6.25 per cent. strike against tourists. With over 170,000 tourism workers in the Canary Islands set to protest, business owners about to welcome thousands of tourists were despairing. They planned to demonstrate in all the tourist hotspots, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. By law, strikers have to provide a "minimum service" but the unions said hotel cleaning, food and entertainment don't fall into this category. They said they must try and preserve the health of hotel workers and provide them with the very best of working conditions. Elsewhere, locals flooded the streets to protest against mass tourism in the area. Activists vowed to storm popular tourist attractions, disrupt public events and 'confront political leaders' in a fiery new phase of protests kicking off May 18 — right as peak holiday season begins. 'From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated,' declared pressure group Canarias tiene un límite (The Canaries Have a Limit). 'We will boycott public events, confront political leaders during their appearances and occupy symbolic tourist spaces to make it clear that we will not stop until real change is achieved.' 'The Canary Islands can no longer be a postcard backdrop for the enjoyment of a privileged few,' the statement read. In a separate warning, the group said: 'This cry, which reflects the feelings of a people tired of being ignored and mistreated, will be the beginning of a new stage of struggle: firmer, more direct, more uncomfortable for those who refuse to listen to us and take real measures.' The backlash follows a 170,000-strong hotel and restaurant workers' strike across the islands just days ago, with locals slamming low wages and poor working conditions in the booming holiday industry. In June last year, beach workers also walked off the job over what unions called "precarious" conditions. As tensions boil over, the Canary Islands Government has now announced plans to completely overhaul its outdated 30-year-old tourism laws in a landmark reform effort. Alfonso Cabello, spokesperson for the regional government, said: 'We're doing this the Canary Islands way — extending a hand and listening to everyone.' The sweeping reforms aim to tackle everything from sky-high housing costs in tourist areas to crumbling infrastructure and overworked public services. 6 6 6
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Warning for holidaymakers as huge strikes to target peak season
The ultimatum was delivered today by the General Union of Workers, the UGT, which has told employers: "You have 15 days to raise wages or there will be a strike in the summer" Workers in a popular Spanish holiday destination are threatening to strike during the peak season. Hotel bosses in Tenerife are facing a stark threat from union leaders: agree to a pay rise within the next fortnight or brace for strike action in the peak of summer. Hospitality chiefs were hit with an ultimatum today by the General Union of Workers, the UGT, announcing to employers: "You have 15 days to raise wages or there will be a strike in the summer." Sindicalistas de Base, the leading union on the bargaining committee, has warned that failure to reach a deal by June 13 will result in a call to action with strikes during July and August. The unions demanded an unconditional salary hike retroactive to January 2025 as a precondition to discussing the rest of the items. The impending strikes could be an echo of the walkouts experienced during Easter Thursday and Friday, after protracted negotiations failed to lead to a deal. The rallying cry of the workers is for a 6.5% wage hike – an additional 4.5% atop the 2% already sanctioned by the collective agreement. In a powerful statement, the CCOO union has accused hotel employers of prioritising Tenerife's tourism image over the welfare of their employees. "What they don't tell you is that in all the postcards with photos of paradisiacal beaches and five-star hotels that mark the exterior image there is an internal face where the truth of the destination is told," the union said in a statement. "In this case the reality of the working conditions of the sector, the case of a housekeeper who has to take medication every day to make the day bearable and who is forced to clean private homes on days off in order to make ends meet. "That of waiters who, with split shifts, are condemned to be tied to the company for 12 or more hours a day, to collapse on the roads or to rest in the car between one shift and another. They don't show you the reception staff subjected to psychosocial risks on a daily basis. They don't tell you anything about the salary differences between provincial agreements of more than 20% in some categories." The new summer strikes would involve thousands of hospitality and restaurant staff, as well as cleaners, kitchen staff, reception, maintenance and entertainers. The strikes, if they go ahead, would have a particular big impact on British holidaymakers. The UK is the Canary Islands' most significant tourism market, accounting for over 40% of all international arrivals. Close to 6.3 million British tourists visited in 2024, marking an increase of over half a million compared to 2023. This figure is double that of German visitors, the second-largest market, which accounted for nearly three million tourists.
