Miguel Ángel Sánchez Fuentes, the leader of the Sindicato dos Traballadores da Limpeza (STL) in A Coruña, is facing growing legal problems as he continues to lead a garbage strike in the city. In addition to an ongoing judicial case in A Coruña for alleged crimes including money laundering, fraud, illegal possession of weapons, and corruption, another case has been opened in Ourense, where the same labor union is also dominant in the waste collection company. The investigation in Ourense is focused on suspicions of corruption in the private sector involving Sánchez Fuentes, his wife, and the manager of the contractor Ecourense.
The allegations state that Sánchez Fuentes, in collaboration with the company’s executive, enriched himself by distributing jobs in exchange for money, leading to a significant increase in his and his wife’s lifestyle, including luxury trips, multiple vehicles, and a new house. The UTE Ecourense, which includes FCC, Copasa, and Geseco, is accused of contracting 307 temporary workers between December 2018 and June 2023, almost half of whom were channeled through a company owned by Sánchez Fuentes’ wife, requiring them to join the union and pay monthly fees. The investigation highlights a system of clientelism aimed at altering the composition of the company’s committee and obtaining illicit benefits.
The ongoing conflict between the STL and the waste collection company PreZero in A Coruña is related to the legal issues surrounding Sánchez Fuentes in both A Coruña and Ourense. The strike, which has been ongoing due to disputes over the hiring of temporary workers, has caused disruptions in waste collection services in A Coruña, leading to overflowing bins and sanitation concerns in the city. The mayor, Inés Rey, has requested the intervention of the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate alleged crimes including coercion, arson, environmental damage, and damage to property related to the strike.
The city has been facing a significant accumulation of trash in the streets, even on days when there were no strikes, leading to unsanitary conditions and public health risks. The company PreZero has initiated dismissals and disciplinary actions against several workers following the start of the strike, leading to further tensions between the company and the labor union. The situation has prompted the mayor to call for a thorough investigation into those responsible for the burnt containers alongside other issues related to the strike, aiming to restore order and cleanliness in the city.
The standoff between the STL and PreZero has resulted in ongoing strikes and disruptions in waste collection services, with both sides blaming each other for the issues. The legal troubles facing Sánchez Fuentes in both A Coruña and Ourense have further complicated the situation and raised concerns about corruption and favoritism in the allocation of jobs. The authorities are working to resolve the conflict and ensure that waste collection services in the city are restored to normalcy, while investigations into the alleged crimes continue to unfold.
