Majórica workers plan to start eight day strike today

The 150 workers in the jewellery section of Perlas Majórica will start an eight day strike today because “we have to do something in view of the lack of dialogue with the management” according to union officials. The union also claims that the management is planning to introduce new job cuts. A union spokesman said yesterday that the strike will take place today, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday and on June 17, 18, 19 and 21 and all the workers will stop between 10am and 12 noon and 8 and 10 pm. Majórica has five centres - three in Majorca and two in Barcelona - and employs around 600 workers, half of whom will be affected by the new request to cut jobs which the unions claim will be presented to the ministry of labour in Madrid shortly. Efforts to mediate in the dispute between management and workers failed yesterday morning, with irate union officials claiming that the management want to get rid of workers before selling the company, famous for its artificial pearls. Other causes for the strike include lack of information about the company's situation and possible sale, delays in paying wages to workers in the Pearl section, and a freeze on salaries this year and last. The workers also want full information on the subcontracting of work and services. Union officials yesterday pointed out that the management had asked the Balearic government for aid totalling six million euros without offering anything in exchange, but nothing was achieved.