Zara shopworkers call off strikes in company’s hometown after 25% pay rise

A UNION representing shop assistants at fashion retailer Zara has called off planned strikes in the company’s hometown in northern Spain following an agreement on a 25 per cent pay rise, a union leader said on Friday (Dec 23).

Around 1,000 workers at Zara shops and other Inditex fashion brands had announced they would strike on Dec 23 and Jan 7 to demand higher wage increases after rejecting the company’s previous offer.

They had already gone on strike during the ‘Black Friday’ sales rush on Nov 24-25.

Inditex has now agreed to pay 322 euros (S$461) more per month to shop assistants who work at its 44 stores in A Coruña, where the fashion giant has its headquarters on the city’s outskirts, CIG union leader and Zara retail assistant Carmiña Naveiro said on Friday. Workers will also get a one-off bonus of 1,000 euros to be paid in February.

“Our salaries as shop assistants will go up by 25 per cent from January in A Coruña,” Naveiro said.

The deal also includes future pay increases of 20 euros in November 2023 and 40 euros in 2024, she added.

Zara shop assistants’ monthly salaries currently range between 1,058 euros and 1,400 euros in the city, the union leader said.

Inditex did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CIG had pushed for a bigger pay rise after rejecting a hike of 200 euros in monthly salaries by 2024. REUTERS