Over 200 greenhouse workers in Albuñol, most of whom are Moroccan, Senegalese and Romanian, have met with union representatives over work-condition exploitation.

The Sindicato Andaluz de Trabajadores (SAT) has just set up shop in the area and are wasting no time. Apparently, these workers are not covered by Social Security; i.e., some of their employers neglect to pay it, and furthermore, pay out inferior wages, between 30 and 35 euros for a 10-hour day.

The SAT held an outdoor meeting with the workers in one of the town’s squares because the Town Hall had refused to let them use a public venue, SAT says.

Around ten in the evening with the meeting winding up, the square was plunged into darkness – the Town Hall assured them that it was a localised power failure but the SAT is convinced that the lights were turned off deliberately in order to break up the meeting.

This situation is causing a bit of a stir in the town as many of the townsfolk live directly or indirectly off the greenhouse sector, so some are not keen on the SAT causing waves.

In the meantime, some walls in the town are sporting posters calling on workers to join the cause; i.e., to get 40 euros for 8-hours work and with Social Security coverage.

The situation in Albolote is delicate because 80% of the town live off the sector and 30% of the of the population are immigrants.

SAT says that they have not come to “cause social unrest,” but rather to end workplace exploitation. Apparently, there is one farmer in particular who is causing most of the problems in this way, claim some workers.

(News: Albuñol, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)