Workers from the Repsol Fuels and Materials divisions in Puertollano gathered this Tuesday in a concentrated protest outside the local City Hall, voicing a stark warning about the industrial viability of the region. The demonstration, organized by the company’s works councils, centers on a gradual but persistent reduction in the permanent workforce at the petrochemical complex, a trend that labor representatives claim is effectively “mortgaging” the future of the city’s industrial base.
While the company has not initiated a wave of direct layoffs, the workforce is shrinking through a process of attrition. As employees retire or exit the company, their positions are simply not being refilled. This structural erosion has left the facility with a leaner staff, creating a tension between corporate efficiency and the operational security of the plant. For those remaining, the result is an increasing workload and a growing reliance on temporary contracts to fill critical gaps.
The scale of the contraction is evident in the current staffing numbers. Repsol Fuels currently maintains 860 positions, a figure that has dropped by approximately one hundred over recent years. Meanwhile, Repsol Materials operates with 329 permanent staff. The precariousness of the situation is further highlighted by the presence of temporary workers covering vacancies that the company has indicated will not be converted into permanent contracts, as internal reorganizations seek to eliminate those specific roles entirely.
A Strategy of Attrition and Structural Change
The current unrest is not an isolated event but the culmination of a series of protests that began in mid-March. The catalyst is a proposed modification of the organizational structure in Puertollano, which labor unions argue lacks a solid justification. Javier MarÃn, president of the Repsol Materials works council, stated that the mobilizations are intended to “intentar frenar o paralizar estas reestructuraciones” because the social partners believe there are no decisive arguments to justify a reduction that primarily penalizes temporary staff.
The friction is compounded by a perceived lack of transparency. Following the presentation of the structural changes, a 30-day window for filing objections was opened, which expires this Thursday. Union representatives have expressed frustration over the lack of intermediary meetings, describing the data provided by the company as too superficial to allow for a meaningful negotiation. This communication gap suggests that a rapprochement between the corporate leadership and the workforce is unlikely in the immediate term.
The specific number of positions slated for elimination—those that will simply not be rehired—breaks down across the complex’s different units. The loss of human capital is distributed as follows:
| Unit | Positions Not to be Re-contracted | |
|---|---|---|
| Repsol Fuels | 17 | |
| Repsol Materials | 14 | |
| RLESA | 5 | |
| Total | 36 |
The Conflict: Automation vs. Industrial Safety
At the heart of the dispute is a fundamental disagreement over the role of technology in high-risk industrial environments. Repsol’s move toward reorganization often aligns with broader industry trends of automation. However, the unions in Puertollano argue that automation cannot fully replace a skilled human workforce, particularly in zones where safety is the primary determinant of operational success. They contend that overloading the remaining staff not only risks burnout but compromises the safety integrity of the plant.
the unions have raised the alarm regarding the outsourcing of services. In their view, externalizing core functions leads to a loss of operational control and a degradation of the long-term expertise held within the company. This shift is seen not as a necessity for survival, but as a choice driven by a desire to maximize margins at the expense of stability.
This perceived choice is where the financial argument becomes most potent. During the protest, workers highlighted a stark contrast between the reduction of the workforce and the company’s financial health. They pointed out that Repsol has reported net profits exceeding 13.5 billion euros over the last five years. The unions specifically noted that while jobs are disappearing, shareholder dividends increased by 7% and the CEO’s salary rose by 17% in 2025. To the workers, these figures suggest that the reduction in staff is not a financial necessity but a strategic preference.
Political Solidarity and Local Impact
The anxiety over the loss of employment in Puertollano has transcended the factory gates, drawing in the city’s political leadership. The protest was attended by representatives from all municipal political groups, led by the Mayor of Puertollano. This cross-party support underscores the city’s dependence on the Repsol complex. for a town where the petrochemical industry is a primary economic pillar, any reduction in the permanent workforce is viewed as a threat to the local economy’s long-term resilience.
The broader implication for the region is a fear of “industrial desertification.” When a cornerstone employer reduces its permanent footprint, the ripple effect is felt across local services, small businesses, and the ability of the city to attract and retain young technical talent. By not filling vacancies, the company is seen as slowly dismantling the human infrastructure that has sustained the city for decades.
As the deadline for filing objections arrives this Thursday, the focus remains on whether Repsol will move beyond “somewhat superficial” data to engage in a genuine dialogue with the works councils. Until then, the workers have indicated that they will continue their path of protest to protect what they describe as the industrial future of Puertollano.
The next critical checkpoint will be the company’s response to the objections filed by the unions this week, which will determine if the reorganization proceeds as planned or if a fresh round of negotiations will be opened to preserve the remaining positions.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on the balance between industrial automation and job security in the comments below.
