Hotel workers across Tenerife are preparing to stage weekly strikes throughout the peak summer months of July and August, with industrial action set to begin on July 4.
The strikes will take place every Friday during the busiest period for tourism on the Canary Island.
The industrial action has been proposed by the main tourism union and is expected to affect the island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Workers are planning to hold protests directly outside major hotel chains, potentially causing significant disruption for British tourists visiting the popular Spanish destination during the summer holidays.
Dozens of protests were seen across Spain last year
GETTYThe strikes have been organised by tourism unions following what union representatives describe as employers' "stubborn refusal" to discuss salary improvements for hotel staff.
Workers are demanding a 6.5 per cent pay rise as part of negotiations for a new collective agreement.
The planned industrial action will see union members staging protests directly outside hotel entrances to maximise their impact on the tourism sector.
Union leader Manuel Fitas of the Grassroots Trade Unionists explained that the dispute stems from employers' failure to respond to workers' demands for improved salaries.
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On May 29, the union gave employers a 15-day deadline to respond to their request for a salary increase before proceeding with negotiations for a new agreement.
Fitas said: "We gave employers a 15-day deadline to respond to their demand for a 6.5 per cent salary increase before negotiating a new agreement."
He added that employers had shown a "stubborn refusal" to discuss salary improvements.
The deadline has now passed without employers reaching a new agreement with the union.
Protests are scheduled every Friday between July and August
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The final dates for the walkouts and protests are expected to be confirmed on June 16.
Despite the looming threat of strikes, Juan Pablo González, manager of the local employers' association, said they remained "moderately optimistic" about making progress in the talks.
When asked if employers would make an exception to avoid strike action, González confirmed that "we limit everything to the table because that is how collective agreements are negotiated".
Anti-tourism protests have been ongoing across Spain since April 2024, with many more planned for the summer months.
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