Threat of closed beaches Lifeguards on Mallorca want to strike in high season
The lifeguards in the municipality of Calvià on Mallorca are planning to strike on July 7, which would mean the closure of some of the most popular beaches.
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- The lifeguards of the municipality of Calvià on Mallorca want to strike on July 7 for better equipment and more staff.
- In this case, some popular beaches on Mallorca would have to be closed for safety reasons.
- The beaches of popular vacation resorts such as Santa Ponça, Magaluf and Paguera would be affected.
The lifeguards in the municipality of Calviá are planning to strike on July 7, in the middle of the high season. They are complaining about outdated work equipment and a lack of staff - a considerable safety risk for bathers, Ariel Gauna, general secretary of the lifeguards' union, told the daily newspaper "Ultima Hora".
In addition, the working materials are outdated. "The watchtowers are falling on our heads," complained the spokesman for the lifeguards of Calvià in the southwest of the Spanish Mediterranean island. Wheelchairs and loungers used to transport people with disabilities into the water are defective. The protest is directed against the company that employs the lifeguards and also against the town hall, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with the regulations.
If the strike goes ahead, the municipality would probably have to close the beaches on July 7 (a Sunday) as the safety of bathers could not be guaranteed. It remains to be seen whether the lifeguards will reach an agreement with the employer and the town hall. It is not unusual for strikes on Mallorca to be called off at the last minute.
Calvià, to the west of the island's capital Palma, includes the popular tourist beaches of Santa Ponça and Paguera as well as the British vacation resort of Magaluf.