Glovo Couriers Launch First National Strike in Spain Over Mass Layoffs

MADRID — In an unprecedented escalation of labor tensions within the gig economy, Glovo couriers across Spain are launching their first national and international strike starting Friday evening. The industrial action comes as a direct response to the platform’s announcement of 750 layoffs and a broader dispute over working conditions following the company’s transition to a direct-employment model.

The strike, organized by the Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) union and supported by UGT, is scheduled to begin Friday at 8:00 p.m. and run until midnight, continuing through Saturday and concluding Sunday, April 26, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A Battle Over the "Ley Rider" Legacy

This labor unrest marks a critical turning point for Glovo, which recently overhauled its business model to comply with Spain’s "Ley Rider." The 2021 legislation, designed to eliminate the use of "false freelancers," forced the company to transition its workforce to direct contracts—a process that concluded in June 2025.

While Glovo reports it now directly employs over 14,000 couriers, CCOO challenges these figures. The union alleges that an additional 20,000 workers are hidden within "shell companies," estimating the actual total workforce at approximately 30,000.

The "Hidden ERE" Allegations

At the heart of the conflict is the Employment Regulation File (ERE) announced on March 11, which targets 750 workers across roughly 60 cities. While Glovo maintains that these cuts are essential to "avoid its closure," unions argue the move is part of a more sinister pattern.

CCOO has filed a formal complaint with the Audiencia Nacional, accusing Glovo of executing a "hidden ERE." The union claims the company has been utilizing a "trickle of disciplinary dismissals without guarantees" over recent months to reduce headcount outside of official channels.

Public Impact and Protests

The strike is expected to disrupt delivery services in 800 Spanish localities where Glovo still operates. Beyond the digital platforms, the conflict is moving to the streets. On Saturday at 5:00 p.m., CCOO has organized concentrations in front of four McDonald’s locations in the Madrid municipalities of Parla, Villalba, Valdemoro, and Fuenlabrada.

The unions’ demands extend beyond the reversal of the layoffs. They are calling for:

• An end to "union persecution."
• The negotiation of a dedicated collective bargaining agreement.
• A cessation of the company’s current disciplinary sanction regime.

Institutional Deadlock

The path to a peaceful resolution seems narrow. Mediation regarding the ERE failed in early April, leaving UGT and CCOO to demand employment guarantees that have yet to materialize.

As of Friday, Glovo has declined to comment on the strike. The outcome of this mobilization will likely serve as a litmus test for the sustainability of the "Ley Rider" model and the power of collective bargaining in the highly fragmented delivery sector.