November 02, 2020

Andrew Campbell 

Workers at municipal funeral homes in Madrid have gone on a 24-hour strike as the death tolls of COVID-19 are rising, demanding an extra 15 to 20 more employees. The unions of funeral workers ask for more staff. The strike took place on All Saints Day, also known as the Day of the Dead or All Souls’ Day, on November 1.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Spain began in March, according to the latest record, Spain has reported more than 1.26 million infection cases and 35,800 deaths from the coronavirus disease.

The Madrid municipal funeral home reportedly employs 478 staff people and operates 14 cemeteries, 2 morgues, and 2 crematoriums. However, the unions protested not enough workers to handle funeral service amid the COVID-19 crisis. During Madrid's appalling first wave of COVID-19 pandemic back in March, temporary morgues were set at ice rinks to meet the need of uprising burial of coronavirus victims. The municipal funeral homes were even once closed due to the lack of protective gear and masks.

As Spain's COVID-19 infection cases continue to spiral, the authorities have enforced new lockdown measures. Fearing the possibility of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the funeral workers had staged a 24-hour strike in September. Funeral home workers have been struggling with the increasing number of victims to bury or cremate.

Photo:Webshot.