Barcelona’s metropolitan area faced significant transport and supply-chain disruption on 29 and 30 October as more than 180,000 metal-industry workers walked out over stalled wage talks. The strike, called by the UGT and CCOO unions, triggered early-morning roadblocks on the C-32, C-55 and Ronda Litoral and slowed access to Barcelona-El Prat Airport, causing some passengers to miss flights.
Manufacturing giants in the Vallès and Bages industrial zones reported partial shutdowns, while port logistics companies warned of container-handling delays that could ripple through just-in-time automotive supply chains. Business-traveller footfall at key hotels dropped as corporates rescheduled meetings or switched them to virtual formats. Local taxi associations, already stretched by Halloween tourism, said journey times from the airport to the city centre doubled during peak picket hours.
Although the Generalitat’s labour-relations service attempted mediation, talks broke down over the unions’ demand for a 3.5 % annual wage rise and a weekly working-time reduction to 37.8 hours. The employers’ federation UPM argues that Spain’s cooling order-books cannot sustain above-inflation increases. With no agreement in sight, unions threaten a 48-hour repeat strike in late November, coinciding with SmartCity Expo, one of Barcelona’s largest international conferences.
Companies with mobile workforces in Catalonia should activate alternative-route guidance, allow extra airport transfer time, and check whether freight forwarders can reroute cargo via Tarragona or Zaragoza. Travel-risk teams are advising executives to avoid Via Laietana and the Port of Barcelona during announced marches.
Manufacturing giants in the Vallès and Bages industrial zones reported partial shutdowns, while port logistics companies warned of container-handling delays that could ripple through just-in-time automotive supply chains. Business-traveller footfall at key hotels dropped as corporates rescheduled meetings or switched them to virtual formats. Local taxi associations, already stretched by Halloween tourism, said journey times from the airport to the city centre doubled during peak picket hours.
Although the Generalitat’s labour-relations service attempted mediation, talks broke down over the unions’ demand for a 3.5 % annual wage rise and a weekly working-time reduction to 37.8 hours. The employers’ federation UPM argues that Spain’s cooling order-books cannot sustain above-inflation increases. With no agreement in sight, unions threaten a 48-hour repeat strike in late November, coinciding with SmartCity Expo, one of Barcelona’s largest international conferences.
Companies with mobile workforces in Catalonia should activate alternative-route guidance, allow extra airport transfer time, and check whether freight forwarders can reroute cargo via Tarragona or Zaragoza. Travel-risk teams are advising executives to avoid Via Laietana and the Port of Barcelona during announced marches.
