Last Saturday, the 10th of July, a large group of people demonstrated
against Mercadona in Valencia to publically demounce the harrassment
which workers at this cruel business are subject to.
People started to gather in front of the Mercadona situated on the
post road in Valencia. The idea was to demonstrate for an hour in front
of the entrance of the supermarket to denounce the consecutive
dismissals of various comrades and the harrassment that continues inside
the store. Comrades from Alicante, Elda, Alcoi, Sagunto, Pilar de la
Horadada, Radio Malva and other sympathizers who wanted to find out
about CNT’s positions towards the abuses of Mercadona came.
People started to hand our leaflets and and we found out that the
company had already learned about the call for a protest and had hired
security guards especially for the occasion. The business policies of
this firm was loudly denounced over megaphones. A girl was discovered
making videos and photographs of the demonstrators and had flee, to the
astonishment of the passersby who saw the anti-union and espionage
tactics typically used by Mercadona against all who criticize their
abuse. In a moment of tension, a security guard hired by the company
came out of the shop and tried to assault a comrade. He had to quickly
flee and hid like a coward.
At 12:30 we left and marched in a block to another Mercadona located
nearby. Hundreds of leaflets were distributed around the neighbourhood
and the demonstrations of solidarity by the people there was
overwhelming. A few people who knew the ex-workers affected joined the
demonstration during its short but intense path.
At 13:00 we arrived at the shop on the 1 de Mayo Avenue, where a
comrade who had been working there was a direct victim of the
harrassment and abuse of the coordinator of the facility. This shop had
also hired security services for the occasion and two guards were
observing us from inside the store. Many neighbours who knew the comrade
joined in and refused to shop at such establishments. What surprised us
most was the attitude of the two security guards who did not allow
people who had a leaflet in their hands to enter and were grabbing them
out of people’s hands and throwing them in the trash. We also discovered
various vehicles who were circling around the area and videotaping the
protest; they were invited to leave the area immediately.
The event ended at 14:00 with shouts and applause for the protest and
the combatative nature sustained during its 2.5 hours. Thousands of
leaflets were distributed and we managed to empty two shops almost
completely. The whole neighbourhood was informed of the bullying
practices of Mercadona. The comrades from Radio Malva did live
interviews with some of the workers affected who told about their
conflicts. You can listen to this here.
More than five years have passed since the CNT started to take a
stand against this cruel company: protests, demonstrations,
informational pickets and a long, indefinite strike. The fight has just
begun and until Mercadona stops its harrassment, mobbing and anti-union
repression, we will not abandon our struggle, even though the other
unions remain silent and actively collaborate with the management to get
rid of workers who are fighting for their dignity.
For more information on Mercadona and to access the forum, go to: Mercacoso
MERCADONA HARRASSES AND DISMISSES
THE CNT CANNOT BE BOUGHT OR SOLD
ORGANÍZE AND FIGHT!
