Shop assistants at Swedish clothing store H&M in Spain extended a three-day strike intended for late June into two more days in early July, according to unions. The action was called to demand pay increases.
Workers have now opted to walk out on 1st July and 8th July as well, in the thick of H&M’s summer sales season. The strikes, which were called by the CCOO and UGT trade unions, were originally set for 20th, 22nd and 26th June.
“The strike is extended because negotiations are blocked,” said union leader Maria de los Angeles Rodriguez.
According to a statement from the two unions, about 95 of the 125 H&M stores in Spain were closed on 22nd June due to the departure of 80 per cent of the 4,000 shop assistants on the second day of the strike. Gran Via’s main store in the heart of Madrid also had to close.
The workers made the decision to demonstrate after months of pay discussions ended in failure. Employees allege that H&M pays less than its principal rivals, including Zara, which is controlled by Inditex.
H&M stated it “respects the rights of employees to express themselves freely” but declined to comment on the requests of the workers.
In response to workers’ requests for better compensation to counteract rising consumer prices, Inditex agreed to a 20 per cent increase in the average wage for shop employees in its home market of Spain earlier this year.
According to H&M’s 2022 annual report, 3.7 per cent of its 106,000 shops worldwide — 75 per cent of which are staffed by women — are located in Spain.
