Work in metal processing has been the primary source of income for many Catalan families. Systematically deteriorating working conditions have led metallurgical workers to protest. These protests—a symbol of the dire situation in this economic sector—are known by Catalans as "Metall en lluita" ("metal in tears"). At the end of October 2025, when a crowd metalworkers marched through the streets of Barcelona to shout their latest demands, no one from the Catalan authorities approached the strikers. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 based on automation and artificial intelligence had just begun.
