After publicly denying its support for the closure, CCOO has issued a new statement accepting the shutdown as “the least harmful option” following a meeting with Consorcio officials.
The dispute over the closure of the Manilva fire station has a new chapter. The CCOO Union Section of the Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos de Málaga, which a few days ago denied having requested or supported the closure, issued a new official statement on Thursday in which it changes its position and backs the measure, after taking part in a meeting of the Mesa General de Negociación.
The statement, signed today, 12 June, and seen by this newsroom, says that during the meeting held the previous day, Consorcio officials, including the technical director, the zone 5 officer, the president and the manager, set out the technical reasons that would justify the immediate closure of the fire station, stating that the deficiencies found “are impossible to remedy”.
From criticism to acceptance
CCOO’s U-turn is striking, especially after it categorically rejected supporting the closure in an earlier press release, in which it said that its union report submitted in December 2024 was only intended to improve working conditions, and that at no point did it request or suggest closing the fire station.
However, in its new assessment, the Union Section maintains that:
“Understanding the impossibility of remedying the occupational health defects of the current Manilva fire station, we consider that the temporary relocation of staff to the Estepona Fire Station […] is the least harmful option for both the workforce and the public”.
Relocation and promises of a new fire station
The union also reports that work is under way on an institutional agreement between Manilva Town Hall, Casares Town Hall and the Diputación to build a new fire station in the area, with provincial funding and a location still to be decided (between Manilva and Casares Costa). However, taking a cool look at the current state of institutional relations and the climate created between the political spectrum in Manilva and the Diputación, this newsroom ventures to think that Casares could be the beneficiary of this whole scandal, as it has preferred dialogue and moderation over the tension and alarmism chosen by Manilva’s council.
