Legal pressure mounts on El Corte Inglés over logistics roles in omnichannel retail transition

Over the past decade, the retail sector has increasingly taken on logistical functions as part of its transformation toward an omnichannel model. Digitalization and the rise of e-commerce have shifted much of the operational burden away from physical stores and onto distribution centers, where processes such as order fulfillment, real-time inventory management, and delivery coordination are concentrated.

In this new landscape, some collective agreements may no longer fully reflect current dynamics and could therefore require revision.

Over 200 workers at Spanish department store chain El Corte Inglés’ main logistics hub on the outskirts of Madrid are demanding individually, but in an organised manner, that their employment conditions be governed by the logistics agreement rather than the retail agreement.

Their responsibilities — operating heavy machinery, preparing orders, and working regularly on Sundays and public holidays — they argue, correspond to logistics activities rather than retail. For the workforce, the switch would represent a significant improvement in working conditions; for the company, it would mean higher structural costs.

The court has already requested a labor inspection of the center and is expected to decide on September 10 whether to process the cases separately or consolidate them into a collective action in a context of lack of confidence in company-aligned unions.

Should Spanish courts consolidate the claims into a collective action and rule in favor of the workforce, the decision could set a precedent with implications beyond Spain, potentially influencing labor negotiations in other European markets.