Refuse and street cleaning workers in Orihuela have voted to start the process towards strike action following a general assembly attended by around eighty per cent of the workforce. The meeting was held at the municipal waste depot in the Puente Alto industrial estate and was supported by the three main unions represented on the works council.

The unions say the service has been suffering from serious problems for more than a year, including unpaid overtime, agreed pay rises that have not been applied and the use of an outdated collective agreement. They also point to staff shortages after more than forty workers were laid off following the summer without replacements, forcing longer shifts.

Further complaints include ageing refuse vehicles that frequently break down, a lack of repairs, expired insurance policies and the absence of mandatory medical checks during two thousand and twenty five. The unions also claim health and safety rules are being breached and say workplace cleaning contracts have expired, leaving facilities in poor condition.

Union representatives say they will begin formal strike procedures, allowing at least ten days for talks, while also planning to report the situation to the labour inspectorate. The council has confirmed it will meet with worker representatives. Problems with refuse collection remain one of the main concerns raised by residents, according to the council’s own surveys.