Iberdrola unions call on more than 9,000 workers in Spain to strike

By Javi West Larrañaga

MADRID (Reuters) - Unions at Iberdrola called on 9,000 workers in Spain to strike on Friday to demand higher salaries and fewer working hours, in what they said would be the first such stoppage in the company's more than 100-year history. 

Europe's largest utility raised the wages of its workers an average of 2.8% between 2021 and 2024 in Spain, while inflation was 19%, a representative for the CCOO union told Reuters on Wednesday. 

The unions, which represent a majority of employees, are demanding Iberdrola peg salary increases to annual inflation to ensure workers suffer no loss in purchasing power, the representative said, adding talks have been ongoing since January.  

The strike would be the first in more than a hundred years of the company's history, the union representative said.

"The cost is minimal in relation to the profits the company makes every year," he added.

Iberdrola's overall net profit in 2024 rose 17% from the previous year, according to company data.  

Iberdrola did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The strike will not lead to power cuts as utility workers are forced to guarantee a minimum service by Spanish law. At least 1,100 Iberdrola employees will have to be at work on Friday to guarantee service.

(Reporting by Javi West Larrañaga, editing by Inti Landauro and Sharon Singleton)