In an official statement, Barcelona said all the services required to stage the match are guaranteed and that the celebration of the Clasico is “not in danger at all”.
Strike window reported by Mundo Deportivo
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona's seasonal staff announced an open-ended strike beginning at 00:00 on Friday 23 October and running until 06:00 on Monday 26 October. That window covers the Clasico scheduled for Sunday 25 October at nine in the evening, plus other fixtures at the Blaugrana's home and the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
Barcelona's figures
Barcelona said a match of this magnitude draws around 80,000 people, including supporters and administrative and organisational staff. The club also said the group calling for the strike numbers no more than 60 seasonal workers.
Demands and club position
Barcelona said the workers are demanding pay rises and a 50% increase in the number of staff, taking it to around 90 employees. Barcelona said employing dedicated staff for certain support services has become “outdated”.
Further talks
Barcelona said clubs such as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Espanyol do not carry a comparable number of permanent seasonal workers for these services, using external providers instead. Barcelona said talks will continue with the group of staff on fixed-term contracts, taking their needs into account and managing resources responsibly.