The workers of the stevedoring companies at the port of Castellón have met with the president of the Port Authority, Rubén Ibáñez, to inform him about the stalemate in the negotiation of the collective agreement.
The representatives of the dockworkers at the port of Castellón held a meeting with the president of the Port Authority, Rubén Ibáñez, to update him on the current state of negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreement. The meeting, requested by the workers themselves, comes at a time when dialogue with the stevedoring companies is at a critical point.
According to union sources, the workers wanted to convey their concern to the president regarding the lack of significant progress in the negotiation table. Although they initially reported the "complete unwillingness of the companies to concede and improve working conditions," this week they confirmed that the table remains open and that all parties continue to dialogue to reach an agreement.
Open Negotiation but with Substantial Differences
The collective agreement for stevedoring in Castellón affects hundreds of workers operating at the port terminals. The discussions, which began months ago, have encountered discrepancies regarding salary and working conditions. From the Coordinadora union, which represents the majority of the dockworkers, they are firmly committed to dialogue but warn that they "will not accept an agreement that worsens their rights."
On the other hand, the stevedoring companies defend the need to adapt working conditions to the competitiveness of the port and market demands. Negotiation sources indicate that the positions remain far apart, although there is a willingness from both sides to avoid a labour conflict that could paralyse port activity.
The Role of the Port Authority as Mediator
The port president, Rubén Ibáñez, has acted as an intermediary in the conflict. The workers have thanked him for his "willingness, closeness, and guidance" in the process, as well as the mediation of the works council of the stevedoring company. The Port Authority positively values that the parties continue negotiating and hopes that dialogue will help unlock the situation in the coming weeks.
The port of Castellón is a key infrastructure for the province's economy, with an annual traffic of over 20 million tonnes. A potential labour conflict in stevedoring could affect the supply chains of sectors such as ceramics, agriculture, or energy, which rely on the port for their exports and imports.
Next Steps and Outlook
The parties plan to resume meetings in the coming days. From Coordinadora, they are confident that the spirit of collaboration shown so far will allow them to reach a "beneficial agreement for workers, companies, and the competitiveness of the port." Meanwhile, the dockworkers remain calm but do not rule out mobilisations if the negotiation becomes definitively stalled.
For the port workers, the outcome of these discussions will mark their employment future in the coming years. The companies, for their part, seek a framework that allows them to remain competitive in a globalised environment. The ball is now in the court of the negotiation table.
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