Vallejo paints workers have won their fight for fair wages, safer conditions, and anti-harassment protocols; here’s what’s next for the miniature painting community.
Updated December 23rd, 2024, by Rob Baer with new information, the strike resolution, and links to relevant content.
Things are heating up in the world of miniature painting, but not in the way you’d expect. Vallejo paints workers have officially won their strike after demanding fair wages, safer working conditions, and protections against harassment. While they fought for their rights, the ripple effects were felt across the miniature painting community.
Whether you’re waiting on a restock of your favorite paints or just curious about how this impacts the hobby, here’s what happened, why it matters, and what they won.
Vallejo Paints Resolves Strike & Shutdown
The employees of Acrylicos Vallejo, a well-known Spanish paint and hobby supply company, just proved that persistence pays off—literally. After nearly a month of picket lines, solidarity, and clever calls for public boycotts, Vallejo workers chalked up a significant win.
Let’s unpack the juicy details of this labor triumph in a way that doesn’t feel like a lecture but still packs a punch.
So, What Did They Win?
These folks didn’t just strike for the heck of it—they had a list, and they ticked off some major items they won, according to their socials:
- Salary bump: Workers secured a raise that could add up to €3,000 annually. That’s not chump change; that’s rent, groceries, or maybe a well-earned vacation.
- Parental aid package: New parents will receive €500 for the birth of a child and a €200 school voucher per child up to the age of 25. Single-parent families get a sweet boost—aid is multiplied by 1.5.
- Workplace harassment protocols: No more sweeping bad behavior under the rug. A new framework ensures harassment is handled seriously.
- Safety upgrades: The facility will now meet labor inspection requirements, meaning a safer environment for everyone.
It’s not just about paychecks and perks; it’s about dignity, fairness, and putting people over profits.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a feel-good story for labor unions. It’s a reminder that collective action can still move mountains—or at least corporate boardrooms. The victory at Vallejo is likely to send ripples through industries, showing workers everywhere that sticking together is a powerful tool against corporate inertia.
Plus, it’s hard not to cheer for a group that stood up for safety, fair wages, and better support for families. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real, and it matters.
Will Vallejo Bounce Back After the Drama?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: what happens to Vallejo Paints now? After 26 days of striking, bad press, and hobbyists threatening to switch to other paint brands, it’s fair to wonder if the company’s reputation can take the hit.
The truth? Even though we’ve shown in the past that Vallejo Paints and some of the folks they sponsor may be a little shady, overall the company might just be fine. Why? Because hobbyists are nothing if not loyal to their favorite supplies, and Vallejo’s products have long been a staple in the community.
Sure, the boycott may have stung, but now that the workers are happy and the company has taken steps to improve, many buyers might view this as a brand worth supporting again.
In fact, this could even work in their favor. Who doesn’t love a redemption arc? A company that faced its challenges, addressed its issues, and came out on the other side with a happier workforce? It’s practically a marketing dream—if they play their cards right.
That said, Vallejo’s new Proa Capital executives would be wise to keep things smooth from here on out. Another PR hiccup and hobbyists might start hoarding their paints and saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Vallejo Paints Workers Strike: What You Need to Know and Why It Matters
Workers at Acrylicos Vallejo, the company behind the iconic paints beloved by miniature painters and wargamers, walked off the job In November 2024. The strike escalated in the final weeks, reverberating through the tabletop gaming and miniature painting communities.
At stake were fair wages, safer working conditions, and protocols to address workplace harassment—a call for change that resonates far beyond Vallejo’s factory walls. How did the strike affect the availability of Vallejo paints? What conditions were workers facing, and what were they asking for?
What Happened at Vallejo?
Nearly all 74 workers at the Vallejo paints factory in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain, went on an indefinite strike. Initially, a partial strike began in late November 2024, but the situation escalated when workers reported the company’s leadership—now under Proa Capital, a private equity firm—refused to engage in meaningful negotiations.
According to statements made by the CGT Catalonia union, workers had three primary demands:
- Fair wages – A wage increase that reflects growing company profits.
- Improved safety conditions – Repairs to machinery and infrastructure that workers say have fallen into dangerous disrepair.
- Workplace harassment protocols – Systems to ensure employees are protected from harassment and mistreatment.
The strike turned Vallejo paints into a symbol of a much larger conversation about worker rights and ethical production.
Why Were Workers Striking?
According to CGT, Vallejo factory workers earned close to Spain’s legal minimum wage—just over €1,134 ($1,200) per month. While Spain’s minimum wage has increased recently, workers argued that the company’s growing profits should be shared fairly.
Wages That Don’t Reflect the Work
A proposed 15% wage increase would only bring their daily earnings to about €46 ($49). Meanwhile, Vallejo’s products are sold in over 55 countries, generating significant revenue in the miniature painting and wargaming markets. The imbalance between executive pay and factory wages was a central point of frustration for the workers.
Dangerous Working Conditions
Workers described the Vallejo factory as unsafe and poorly maintained. Reports include:
- Falling ceiling tiles (fortunately, without injuries so far).
- Outdated machines are held together with makeshift repairs like brackets.
- Facilities that lack basic amenities, such as showers or adequate break spaces—a major issue in a chemical paint production environment.
One worker described the factory’s conditions as “deplorable,” while others emphasized the risk of accidents due to neglected safety measures.
No Protections Against Harassment
Another significant issue was workplace harassment. Workers claim there are no formal protocols to handle incidents of abuse or intimidation. CGT representatives accused certain managers of fostering toxic environments, adding unnecessary stress to employees already working under difficult conditions.
In one case, a worker was reportedly fired just days after filing a harassment complaint—a decision the union is challenging in court.
How Did We Get Here? Vallejo Paints and Private Capital
So, what does this mean for your lovingly hand-painted Space Marines or that unpainted pile of miniatures gathering dust on your shelf, and how did we get here? Vallejo Acrylics has a rich history. Founded in New Jersey in 1965, the company moved to Barcelona and became a major name in artistic and miniature paints.
However, in December 2023, private equity firm Proa Capital purchased a majority stake in Vallejo for $53 million. Since then, workers say the company has prioritized profits over their well-being.
Union president Patricia Pérez has been outspoken about the difficulties of negotiating with the new management, saying:
- The company refuses to share required information with worker representatives.
- Complaints to Spain’s Labor Inspectorate have been necessary just to address basic facility repairs.
- Productivity targets imposed by management are “unattainable,” further adding to worker stress.
How the Strike Impacted the Miniature Painting Community
For tabletop gamers, miniature painters, and model builders, Vallejo paints are more than just supplies—they’re tools that bring creative visions to life. But the strike raises both practical and ethical concerns (like the recent Games Workshop one).
Disruptions to Vallejo Paint Supplies
Vallejo paints were already hard to get here in the States before and after the Pandemic, with many sellers opting to liquidate the line as they proved problematic to restock.
During the strike, painters started to notice disruptions in the Vallejo paint supply chain. Popular colors were harder to find, restocks could be delayed, and prices might increase. This is a familiar situation for Vallejo paints, which have already faced stock issues in recent years, particularly in the U.S. market.
Final Thoughts on the Vallejo Strike
Vallejo paint workers won their fight for fair treatment, and it looks like things will go back to normal for hobbyists, but better for the workers making them. It seems the support of the community paid off, and maybe this will be a much-needed redemption arc for the company.
Who knows, maybe this will even end up helping them in the long run. They received a lot of press (pretty much all bad), but there are a lot of eyes on the company. If they play their cards right, they might just be more popular than ever and with far happier workers!
Recommended Paints & Products For The Miniatures Hobby!
What are your thoughts on the Vallejo paints strike? Will you be getting their paints again now that it’s over?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
