Last week, a delegation of Spanish trade unionists from UGT, CCOO, and BUB visited the European Parliament, thanks to the invitation of MEP Idoia Mendia, to raise awareness of the devastating impact these cuts will have on workers, their families, and the wider regional economies. IndustriAll Europe and the ETUC held a meeting with the delegation.

Despite being among the most productive sites in Europe and having received recent investments, both plants are now at risk due to management decisions—citing lower profitability, shrinking demand, and competition from low-cost production countries, particularly in Asia.

While management admits that the plants remain profitable, they argue that they are not profitable enough and have announced plans to increase production abroad, where labour costs and protections are lower. Workers who keep their jobs are also expected to see their working conditions deteriorate significantly. Meanwhile, Bridgestone has reported a net profit of USD 1.8 billion for 2024.

The Spanish delegation highlighted the lack of proper information and consultation, both at national level and within the European Works Council (EWC). Workers were only informed of the decision on 1 April—after it had already been made. EWC representatives reported serious shortcomings in the functioning of the body, including withheld information and limited opportunities for genuine dialogue with management. This is a clear violation of workers' rights to information and consultation. European companies must respect EU rules and engage with workers in a meaningful and timely way.

IndustriAll Europe stands in full solidarity with the workers and will continue to support their fight at national and European level. We will work closely with our affiliates, EWC members, and institutional allies to monitor the situation and push for fair solutions. The layoffs are expected to have a devastating ripple effect, with unions estimating that each direct job loss could lead to three more job losses throughout the supply chain and local communities.

Bridgestone workers still face two upcoming meetings with the company management—scheduled for 5 and 6 May—in the hope of negotiating a just solution. Regional governments have stepped in to mediate, but no resolution has yet been reached.

“We call on Bridgestone to immediately halt the planned layoffs and engage in genuine social dialogue to find alternatives that preserve jobs, uphold workers’ rights, and protect affected communities”, said Judith Kirton-Darling, General Secretary of industriAll Europe. “We also urge national and European authorities to implement a coordinated and robust industrial policy that safeguards jobs and strategic sectors across Europe, while ensuring a Just Transition for all workers impacted by industrial change.”