Roadblock Rage: Metalworkers’ Strike Causes Traffic Chaos
Drivers Stuck in Scorching Heat for Hours
Impact on Travel
- More than 4,000 commuters stranded between La Línea and Gibraltar on Tuesday, June 24.
- Pickets closed major access roads, and police sealed off additional stretches.
- Only the narrow Higuerón road remained open, but it jammed quickly, delaying some drivers by over four hours.
Alternative Route
- Higuerón road, the sole open path, became clogged, forcing commuters to wait in sweltering conditions.
- Drivers found themselves waiting in the heat as traffic flowed slowly.
Flight Missed
- Some travelers missed their flights due to the delays caused by the strike.
- The stoppage of traffic roiled the plans of stranded commuters.
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Blocked roads and boiling frustration around Cadiz
Metal‑Sector Strike Disrupts Cádiz Roads
The ongoing strike in Cádiz began after union‑employer talks collapsed on June 18‑19. Since June 23, essential routes around Cádiz and neighbouring towns have repeatedly come to a standstill.
Key Blockades and Traffic Jams
- San Roque – Around 200 protesters blocked the CA‑34 near the Moeve factory, forcing traffic onto the A‑7 and creating severe delays toward Málaga.
- June 26, 8 am onwards – Only cars exiting La Línea were allowed through; everyone else was stuck.
Closed Streets and Calm Pickets
- Avenida de Astilleros – Closed to traffic at 7:15 am on June 26; no barricades or disturbances, yet the two bridges were open.
- Puerto Real – 80 individuals sat in the Alestis parking lot; no traffic disruption.
- El Puerto – 40 people lined up at the Tecnobahía industrial park; calm picket.
- San Fernando – Eight individuals positioned between Navantia factory entrances; security forces directed traffic to avoid congestion.
Local Officials Call Out the Impact
Mayor Juan Franco dubbed the disruption “unjustifiable,” warning of real social consequences: residents missed work, school and medical appointments.
Human Stories Emerge
A Facebook post by Lori Hillman captured the dire situation:
“On Tuesday it took me 4 ½ hours to complete a twenty‑minute journey from Pueblo Nuevo to Gibraltar. No signs of warning, no police giving out water in the heat. No way to turn around to go home.”
“I saw cars overheated, broken down on the side of the road… I saw a woman who just stopped her car, head in hands, sobbing.”
“I saw elderly people in old cars without air‑con, windows open, fanning themselves with fans or pieces of cardboard. 4 ½ hours for an elderly person, no movement, no water, this is a serious threat to their health, to their heart and kidneys.”
“I saw babies in these cars and young children hot and crying. Missing school, work, medical appointments.”
“Shame on the organisation who didn’t think of consequences and shame on the local authorities who didn’t provide information or send police on motorbikes to check on vulnerable people.”
These firsthand accounts underline the significant human toll the strike is taking on the Cádiz community.
No end in sight
Metalworkers in Cádiz Persist with Daily Road Blockades outside Key Employers
Silent Picket Lines Continue, Yet Rising Resident Frustration Mounts
- Navantia, Alestis, and the Tecnobahía industrial estate stand at the center of daily road blockades orchestrated by metalworkers.
- Most picket lines remain peaceful, but the protest scale—particularly near commuter routes—has spurred rising anger among residents in the Campo de Gibraltar and beyond.
Middle Ground Reached after Meeting at Andalusian Council of Labor Relations
Antonio Montoro of the UGT told the media, “Nothing is finalized or concrete,” yet he added, “there have been proposals from both sides.” This statement follows a Thursday, June 26 meeting at the Andalusian Council of Labor Relations (CARL) in Seville.
Strike Rights Versus Public Health and Daily Life Cost
- The workers maintain their legal right to strike.
- However, many question whether that right should come at such a high cost to public health and everyday life.
