Employees of the sales centers are calling for a collective agreement for the logistics sector

In the past decade, the retail sector has increasingly taken over logistical functions in the course of its transformation to an Omnichannel model. Digitization and the rise of e-commerce have relocated a large part of the operational burden from physical business to the distribution centers. There, processes such as order processing, real-time existing management and delivery coordination concentrate there.

In this new landscape, some collective agreements may no longer completely reflect the current dynamics and could therefore require a revision.

Over two hundred employees: Inside the Spanish department store group El Corte Inglé in the most important logistics center on the edge of Madrid, but organized that their employment conditions are regulated by the logistics collective agreement and not from the retail collective agreement. Their tasks- serving heavy machines, the preparation of orders and the regular work on Sundays and public holidays- according to their arguments, correspond to logistical activities rather than retail. For the workforce, the changeover would mean a significant improvement in working conditions; For the company, higher structural costs.

The court has already requested a work inspection of the center. It is expected to decide on September 10 whether the cases are processed separately or summarized into a class action. This happens in a context of lack of trust in corporate loyalty unions.

If the Spanish courts summarize the lawsuit for a class action and decide in favor of the employees: the decision could be made on the inside, the decision could create a precedent that has an impact beyond Spain. This could affect collective bargaining in other European markets.