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SIMA Intervenes Due to Union Blockade in Fish Canning Collective Agreement

SPAIN
Monday, January 05, 2026, 00:00 (GMT + 9)

FEICOPESCA denounces the lack of negotiating will from unions after 11 months of stalled talks

Vigo - The Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA) has admitted for processing the complaint filed by FEICOPESCA (Spanish Federation of Seafood Processing and Marketing Industries). The employers' association formally accuses the trade unions UGT-FICA, CCOO Industria, and CIG of violating the principles of good faith and blocking progress on the National Collective Agreement for Canned, Semi-Preserved, and Salted Fish and Shellfish.

The complaint was filed on December 17 following the unions' refusal to hold meetings and the unilateral cancellation of the session scheduled for December 18. With this admission, SIMA will force the parties into mediation to unblock a conflict affecting nearly 30,000 workers and 400 companies across Spain.

Key Conflict Objectives

FEICOPESCA bases its action on three strategic goals:

1. Unblock Negotiations: Demanding the withdrawal of "maximalist" positions and a return to the principles of good faith established in Article 89 of the Workers' Statute.

2. Overcome Evasiveness: Moving past "all or nothing" demands to achieve realistic alternative proposals.

3. Establish a Timeline: Setting a fixed schedule of meetings to ensure the finalization of the new agreement.

A Proposal with Historical Salary and Social Improvements

Despite the current deadlock, the employers' federation has presented a proposal for the 2025-2029 period that significantly improves previous conditions:

• Salary Increases: A +7% increase in 2026 for the largest professional group (Manufacturing Officers) and up to +12% for critical process operators.

• Back Pay: Payment of approximately 500 euros in arrears for the year 2025.

• Purchasing Power: A revaluation clause based on actual CPI, including the payment of unlimited annual arrears.

• New Professional Classification: A 9-level system based on the principle of "equal pay for equal work," which eliminates the category of Manufacturing Assistant, a long-standing union demand.

Commitment to Equality and Labor Innovation

The text proposed by FEICOPESCA incorporates high-level social advancements:

• Specific protection for women victims of gender-based violence.

• Protocols against harassment, mobbing, and protection for LGTBI identity and expression.

• Information rights regarding the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and new digital systems.

• Action plans for climate emergencies with specific paid leave

A Strategic Sector Facing Uncertainty

FEICOPESCA regrets that, after 11 months of dialogue, unions have opted for mobilization over agreement. "It is incomprehensible that the same demands from day one are maintained, preventing workers from receiving their salary improvements today," the federation stated.

The federation is composed of key associations such as ANFACO-CECOPESCA, the Association of Canned and Salted Fish Manufacturers of Vizcaya, CONSESA (Cantabria), and NORPESCO. Together, they represent nearly the entire national production, serving as a fundamental economic and social engine for the Spanish coastline.

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