Workers at a factory Danone plans to close in Spain have voted for strike action.
The planned 11-day strike action at the site Parets del Vallès, north of Barcelona, will take place between 16 March and 27 March, the Spanish business publication El Economista reported. Some 80% of workers voted for industrial action, the newspaper said.
In January, Danone confirmed plans to shut the site. At the time, the French giant said the decision was made as “part of a local rationalisation process with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness of brands and gaining industrial efficiency.”
Some 157 workers will be impacted by the closure.
In a statement sent to Just Food today (11 March) in response to the planned strike action, Danone said it “respects the right of the workers to mobilise as a protest measure against the announced proposal to cease activity at the plant, but wishes to insist on its willingness to dialogue”.
The French giant added: “Negotiations continue to move forward and we are confident that we will be able to reach an agreement satisfactory to both parties as soon as possible.”
The company also said it is "in the process" of looking for a buyer for the factory.
According to reports, Lucas Díaz, from CCOO, the union representing the staff, reportedly said that, despite the plans for closure, the Danette brand owner has asked workers to increase production on weekends.
Just Food has contacted the CCOO for comment.
