Spain suffers from a bus strike throughout the territory which paralyzes several important cities and provincial capitals. The main reason that led drivers to this situation is the early retirement. These workers belong to one of only two employment sectors (with that of cranes) which have not found an agreement to apply this measure. Freight transporters were also going to join, but they canceled the event when the government gives in.
The drivers mobilized on October 28 and will return to strike this Thursday, November 28, but they plan to demonstrate again in the coming years. on November 29 and December 5 and 9.
However, workers consider it possible that the protests will continue after December 23, a day before Christmas Eveif the Executive does not begin to give in to their demands.
With this, drivers seek to put pressure on the doors of Christmas seasonwhich can harm many users who use public transport to do their shopping or visit family on these important dates.
Minimal transportation services
The national transport strike does not affect all Spanish cities uniformly, as minimum services and the intensity of the impact vary by region.
In Madridthe Transport Consortium has established minimum services for the Municipal transport company (EMT) by 75% during peak hours, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and 50% during off-peak hours. For night services, the operation of 45% of the lines will be guaranteed, while during holidays the minimums will be 50% for EMT and 45% for the rest of the Community’s urban and intercity buses.
In BarcelonaTHE minimal services Fixed limits include 40% of service in the periods 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., while the rest of the day will operate at 20% capacity. Coaches, school buses and those specializing in the transport of disabled people will remain operational at approximately 85% of their capacity.
In AragonThe strike affects both urban and intercity services, including school and long-distance buses, with disruption expected throughout the day. Minimum services were set at approximately 59%.
On the other hand, in La Coruñathe Tram Company indicated that the service would not be affected by this week’s strike and would operate normally, according to a statement published on its social networks.
The bus strike in Spain
The strike called in the transport sector has joined “almost all” the unions, according to CCOO, which explains that the mobilization aims for early retirement due to the dangerous nature of the sector. However, the Spanish Bus Transport Confederation (Confebús) emphasizes that the first day went “almost completely normally”, with a 95% compliance minimal services, with the exception of a few incidents generated by strike pickets.
“So far, there have been around thirty broken windows, which prevents these vehicles from providing the corresponding services,” the sector’s employers’ organization declared a month ago.
CCOO criticized the minimum services established for the bus sector strike, considering them “abusive” because they included some with a 100% coverageeven if they are not considered essential and could be traveled by other means of transport without stopping.
Until now, the sectors of ambulances and trucks They reached agreements that ended their strike by agreeing to seek early retirement due to the dangerous nature of the work. However, the bus and crane sectors have not yet reached a consensus.
