It is now evident that the organisation that has been granted the contract to provide beach lifeguarding services in Guardamar del Segura in 2025 is exceeding its welcome.
At the commencement of the season, the Andalusian company was scarcely able to operate its services due to the material resources required by the contract it had recently secured, including the provision of quad bikes and jet skis. Consequently, salary payments are being postponed. This is the reason why the lifeguards, a significant number of whom were subcontracted from the previous Red Cross contract, vented their frustration on social media as they had not yet received their July salaries.
The same messages also indicated that the approximately 45 lifeguards who provide this essential service on the shore during the summer peak season were on strike. However, this was not the situation. A legal strike request necessitates a prior administrative procedure to notify the administration and determine the conditions under which it will be executed.
Absence of patrols
Some of the lifeguards discontinued their patrols of the shore. They were restricted to regions with lifeguard stations. On Thursday, August 7th, the red flag was hoisted in response to easterly winds and turbulent seas. In other words, lifeguards are most necessary during the summer months, as numerous swimmers disregard these warnings along the Guardamar coastline. This coastline is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the Valencian Community, but it also has some hazardous rip currents. The quality and open space of beaches attract thousands of visitors; however, they necessitate special attention. The summer of 2024 was particularly dramatic, with six fatalities attributed to drowning.
The PSOE, which maintains an absolute majority in the local government, was accused by the opposition Popular Party of failing to provide a quality service following the change that resulted in the Red Cross, which submitted a bid, losing the contract after many years of providing the service. The opposition party, as is customary, echoed the protests of the lifeguard company’s staff. The PP regards the Socialists’ administration of this service as “outrageous.”
It cannot be terminated
Mayor José Luis Sáez, on the other hand, said that the government team maintains daily correspondence with the company and yesterday requested that it rectify the delays. This was accomplished throughout the day on Thursday. Sáez reiterated that the protest was not a strike and noted that the City Council is unable to terminate the contract with the current company because it would have no alternative to cover the service for the remainder of the season, which runs until October in Guardamar. This contract is one of the longest beach lifeguard contracts in the Valencian Community. Sáez mentioned that the City Council is in the process of compiling the specifications for the service contract, which will commence in 2026 and last for three years.
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