They were only sold a year ago. They are still in the same factory from before the sale right? It sounds like these issues with no showers existed before they were bought out. The building doesn't start falling apart in a year. I'm sure the new ownership is awful, but it seems like the workers have been getting screwed for a long time.
That is very true. It seems that things probably weren't great for a while. One difference that seems to be implied by the article is that the current management is very authoritative and does not listen to the workers at all, which suggests that the previous management was probably a little easier to get along with. But I doubt that it was great then either...
@@ZombieSashimi The harassment and complete lack of listening is what broke the camels back. 90% of my paints are the new Game Color and Xpress color. I'm not happy to see the workers getting screwed.
16 Carrer d'Eusebi Millan is the address looking at google street view, it doesn't look like a rundown facility. Don't know the reason for sale, but for a seemingly successful business it is usually age/ death of prinicipal owner, need for investment, needing cash for another venture. After the investment in new ranges, I'm struggling to see the motivation. However I've seen on too many ocassions, new investors come in and break a business, they cannot keep on top on day to day expenses whilst servicing the leveraged debt pile. New investors have no history of the people and look to "improve productivity" before understanding the business, not knowing all the "black book" knowledge that makes the place work. As a divorce lawyer once told me, there are 3 versions of the truth, yours, hers and the real truth. I suspect as this runs more truth will emerge.
I'm rooting for the workers here, as an electrician I really can't stand seeing skilled people who make an excellent product getting shafted by management.
Great to see you continuing to follow and share this ZS. Anytime we see behind the curtain regarding a Spanish company (ref Green Stuff World) we discover just how terrible the Spanish workforce is treated. The statement you make of workplace safety regardless of pay resonates with me. They don't deserve to work in squalor. I suspect the long term damage this negative publicity will have on Vallejo will be long lasting.
There is the worry that even if it gets resolved, there will be a negative effect long term. But without the strike this kind of treatment would have just continued. Still fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
" Je soupçonne que les dommages à long terme que cette publicité négative aura sur Vallejo seront durables." Pour AK ça a duré à peine 6 mois et maintenant toutes les célébrités du hobby leur vouent un culte, donc ça m'étonnerais.
@ I hope so too. Sadly here in Canada, the companies when it gets like that, they either dissolve, rebrand at a different location with everything new or move to a new location relocating staff. That is often across the country or another if they want to retain their employment.
They are also a profitable company, so even with the cheaper prices, they should be able to support their workers more. But, yeah, it does make you feel weird to know how the workers have been treated.
I wish them luck! In my experience, factory management/owners will always do the bare minumum they can get away with to protect workers until strikes impact their bottom line. A factory I worked in tried to take away all our annual leave and refused to implement any safety measures because "The HSE won't inspect for another 4 years so why bother" - Striking solved that so here's hoping it works for the Vallejo workers. Spanish working conditions are some of the worst in Western Europe. It's only by striking and raising awareness that it doesn't have to be this way that change will happen
This is quite a sad situation, thank you for the update. It sucks that Vallejo paints are/have been one of the easiest miniature paints to work with. I will be switching brands going forward.
If I see any more news come of this I will be sure to share. I am hoping for a positive result for the workers as I really like Vallejo products and want to support them if they do the right thing.
Good to know! I'll hold off buying any Vallejo product until this gets a positive result for the staff. Cannot stand toxic work place culture. Hope Vallejo are reading these comments.
It's shocking that a company making such excellent products would be so draconian with its staff. Aren't they making big profits? Why would you screw that up? Short-sighted management for sure.
Private equity - they load up the business with debt in order to buy it, then claim efficiency must be improved to pay the interest on that debt. It's a plague on business and genuine investment, not to mention the driver of these appalling working conditions.
Vallejo were the first non GW miniature paints I ever bought when I started into the hobby & I fell in love with them. I just got some of their new Game Color & Model Color - which I also love but I am disgusted by how the workers are being treated. Sounds like Spanish labour and safety law is absolutely toothless when it comes to enforcement. It's not like the workers are asking for the moon!
Army Painter are still Europe (Scandinavia), but they are Danish. Definitely seem a good company to support as they genuinely seem a very positive company and I have hears their new paint line is very good compared to their last. Spain seems to have some very right wing elements in government that turn a blind eye to worker's rights that some companies take advantage of.
The company had been contacted by a number of press outlets for comment and they stayed silent. They had a month to release comment and didn't. There is a reason you haven't heard anything, and it is because the company hasn't been speaking about it. That usually does not mean a good thing.
Damn, this has been kept quiet. Thanks for the update.
Don't think enough people are talking about it at the moment. If there are any developments I will post more.
Thank you for bring this topic to our attention.
Happy to be getting the word out there.
Man. I hope the workers get their just due. They deserve the world.
Right there with you!
They were only sold a year ago. They are still in the same factory from before the sale right? It sounds like these issues with no showers existed before they were bought out. The building doesn't start falling apart in a year. I'm sure the new ownership is awful, but it seems like the workers have been getting screwed for a long time.
That is very true. It seems that things probably weren't great for a while. One difference that seems to be implied by the article is that the current management is very authoritative and does not listen to the workers at all, which suggests that the previous management was probably a little easier to get along with. But I doubt that it was great then either...
As it always is.
@@ZombieSashimi The harassment and complete lack of listening is what broke the camels back. 90% of my paints are the new Game Color and Xpress color. I'm not happy to see the workers getting screwed.
16 Carrer d'Eusebi Millan is the address looking at google street view, it doesn't look like a rundown facility.
Don't know the reason for sale, but for a seemingly successful business it is usually age/ death of prinicipal owner, need for investment, needing cash for another venture. After the investment in new ranges, I'm struggling to see the motivation. However I've seen on too many ocassions, new investors come in and break a business, they cannot keep on top on day to day expenses whilst servicing the leveraged debt pile. New investors have no history of the people and look to "improve productivity" before understanding the business, not knowing all the "black book" knowledge that makes the place work. As a divorce lawyer once told me, there are 3 versions of the truth, yours, hers and the real truth. I suspect as this runs more truth will emerge.
He says that the productivity targets were unreasonable.
I'm rooting for the workers here, as an electrician I really can't stand seeing skilled people who make an excellent product getting shafted by management.
Great to see you continuing to follow and share this ZS.
Anytime we see behind the curtain regarding a Spanish company (ref Green Stuff World) we discover just how terrible the Spanish workforce is treated.
The statement you make of workplace safety regardless of pay resonates with me. They don't deserve to work in squalor.
I suspect the long term damage this negative publicity will have on Vallejo will be long lasting.
There is the worry that even if it gets resolved, there will be a negative effect long term. But without the strike this kind of treatment would have just continued. Still fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
" Je soupçonne que les dommages à long terme que cette publicité négative aura sur Vallejo seront durables."
Pour AK ça a duré à peine 6 mois et maintenant toutes les célébrités du hobby leur vouent un culte, donc ça m'étonnerais.
I hope, they‘ll be successful. Thanks for covering this
You're welcome. I hope so too!
Oh wow, that is really crazy. Thank you for sharing this.
Yes it is. Hoping for a positive outcome.
@ I hope so too. Sadly here in Canada, the companies when it gets like that, they either dissolve, rebrand at a different location with everything new or move to a new location relocating staff. That is often across the country or another if they want to retain their employment.
Yikes! I didn't know anything about this. I love Vallejo paints but hope they start treating their workers better
explains why their paints are cheaper, they skipped out on improving the workplace and its workforce, painting with those paints now feels weird
They are also a profitable company, so even with the cheaper prices, they should be able to support their workers more. But, yeah, it does make you feel weird to know how the workers have been treated.
Thanks for sharing. I didn’t know about this.
Glad you were able to see it. Getting the word spread is important.
You still only heard labors side. One sided and unverified.
I wish them luck! In my experience, factory management/owners will always do the bare minumum they can get away with to protect workers until strikes impact their bottom line. A factory I worked in tried to take away all our annual leave and refused to implement any safety measures because "The HSE won't inspect for another 4 years so why bother" - Striking solved that so here's hoping it works for the Vallejo workers.
Spanish working conditions are some of the worst in Western Europe. It's only by striking and raising awareness that it doesn't have to be this way that change will happen
Happy to give them any support I can. Also hoping that the strike gets them better working conditions and treatment.
This is quite a sad situation, thank you for the update. It sucks that Vallejo paints are/have been one of the easiest miniature paints to work with. I will be switching brands going forward.
If I see any more news come of this I will be sure to share. I am hoping for a positive result for the workers as I really like Vallejo products and want to support them if they do the right thing.
Good to know! I'll hold off buying any Vallejo product until this gets a positive result for the staff. Cannot stand toxic work place culture. Hope Vallejo are reading these comments.
It is very disheartening when these situations occur. The more people talk about it, the greater the chance that Vallejo will notice.
Why does everytime we hear about a Spanish paint brand outside of their new stuff it's in a bad light?? :c
It does seem to mostly be the Spanish paint companies that get into hot water, doesn't it.
@@ZombieSashimi i am spaniard and i can confirm you that ALL spanish companies sucks.
Because those are the only things to hear about from a paint company, New stuff, or dumb stuff.
Almost bought some Vallejo stuff, I’m glad I saw this first
Good news. The company settled with the workers. Gonna put a video out when I get the chance to update on the news.
It's shocking that a company making such excellent products would be so draconian with its staff. Aren't they making big profits? Why would you screw that up? Short-sighted management for sure.
Bloody Private Equities. Make a quick buck seems to be the motto.😢
Private equity - they load up the business with debt in order to buy it, then claim efficiency must be improved to pay the interest on that debt. It's a plague on business and genuine investment, not to mention the driver of these appalling working conditions.
They truly suck.
Vallejo were the first non GW miniature paints I ever bought when I started into the hobby & I fell in love with them. I just got some of their new Game Color & Model Color - which I also love but I am disgusted by how the workers are being treated. Sounds like Spanish labour and safety law is absolutely toothless when it comes to enforcement.
It's not like the workers are asking for the moon!
I am in exactly the same boat as you with the same experiences and thoughts on the situation.
I'm switching to Army Painter , I thought Europe was better than that!
Army Painter are still Europe (Scandinavia), but they are Danish. Definitely seem a good company to support as they genuinely seem a very positive company and I have hears their new paint line is very good compared to their last. Spain seems to have some very right wing elements in government that turn a blind eye to worker's rights that some companies take advantage of.
Id rather have good conditions than paint. Sad for the community but in general nobody deserves something like this.
All I use is Vellejo paints. I better start buying while I can to stock up till this is resolved
The strike has now been resolved.
Think of the children.
I would like to hear the other side. This seems pretty one sided and unsubstantiated reporting only from the labor party's perspective.
The company had been contacted by a number of press outlets for comment and they stayed silent. They had a month to release comment and didn't. There is a reason you haven't heard anything, and it is because the company hasn't been speaking about it. That usually does not mean a good thing.
Meh.
Just Close it down. Everyone unemployed. Re-group.
You're very smart aren't you