Spain Lifeguards in Mallorca want to strike on July 7
The lifeguards in the municipality of Calvià on Mallorca are planning to strike on July 7. A spokesperson told the German Press Agency on Saturday that the walkout in the middle of the high season was intended to draw attention to staffing problems. As there is usually only one lifeguard on duty, there is a risk that not enough help can be provided in two emergencies at the same time.
22.06.2024, 16:44
SDA
In addition, the equipment is outdated. "The watchtowers are falling on our heads," complained the spokesperson for the Calvià lifeguards 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 beaches of Santa Ponça and Paguera, which are popular with German tourists, as well as the British vacation resort of Magaluf.
