San Bartolomé de Tirajana, the number one destination for tourists in Gran Canaria, has successfully averted a major disruption just in time. The union representing the beach sunbed and umbrella service workers, known as "hamaqueros," had announced an indefinite strike from this Saturday, June 8th, which threatened to leave beaches such as San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, and Maspalomas without these essential services as we head into the summer season.
The beach service contractor, Perfaler, reached a crucial agreement with the workers' union representatives yesterday (Wednesday), to renew a long-standing contract that had not been updated since 2013.
The FSOC, FSM, and FSC unions jointly announced the successful renegotiation of the agreement, which had previously subjected workers to what they described as “absolute exploitation” in terms of hours, wages, and working conditions.
The unions highlighted significant improvements in the workers' conditions achieved through the new agreement, with wages are set to increase by approximately 30% across the board.
Furthermore, under the new agreement, workers will now have bank holidays off that they previously worked without compensation. Until now, they had to work all 14 annual public holidays without any additional pay or time off. Additionally, the workday will gradually be reduced by one hour per year.
Another improvement is the introduction of an annual medical examination tailored to the specific needs of the beach workers. This will include checks for skin diseases, melanomas, and cancer, reflecting the unique health risks associated with their job due to extended exposure to the sun.
This agreement is a substantial step forward in improving the working conditions for these essential beach service workers, ensuring both their well-being and the continued satisfaction of the thousands of tourists who flock to Gran Canaria's main beaches every week.