Forest Firefighters Strike Amid 15-Year Wage Freeze and Poor Working Conditions

• Forest firefighters in the Madrid region are working under extreme conditions to combat major wildfires while maintaining ongoing strikes against precarious labor conditions.
• The workforce is burdened by a collective bargaining agreement that has been expired since 2008 and wages that have remained frozen at approximately 1,300 euros since 2010.
• Regional authorities are accused of failing to implement National Law 5/2024, which requires the professional classification of forest firefighters and the recognition of workplace hazards.

Key Issues

• Compensation and Health: Workers face a lack of protection against carcinogens and no formal recognition of professional risks, such as physical exertion, toxicity, and psychological stress.
• Job Insecurity: About 40% of Madrid's forest firefighting staff are hired only for the four-month summer season, leading to high turnover and loss of experienced personnel.
• Preventive Shortfalls: Budgeted positions remain unfilled, and preventive maintenance, such as brush clearing and firebreak creation, has been reduced by 50% compared to previous seasons, increasing wildfire severity.

Administrative Conflict

• Two separate strikes are ongoing: one involving contractors for the public company Tragsa and another involving staff directly hired by the Madrid administration.
• While Tragsa-contracted firefighters are nearing a tentative agreement, those directly employed by the Madrid regional government report being sidelined by an administration that favors outsourcing and has stalled the hiring of 124 budgeted public positions.