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Date Published: 24/01/2023

ARCHIVED - Alicante intercity bus drivers prepare for indefinite daytime strikes

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The drivers plan to rally in from of Alicante City Hall on Thursday January 26 over working conditions

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Alicante intercity bus drivers prepare for indefinite daytime strikes

For the last eight months, Alicante intercity bus drivers on night services have been striking to demand better pay and working conditions. And now, after months of stoney silence from the public authorities, they are threatening indefinite industrial action on L'Alacantí's daytime service if their demands are not met.

On Thursday January 26, drivers from La Alcoyana plan to rally outside Alicante City Hall in town hall square, a gathering that will coincide with a municipal plenary session, to seek "mediation and support" from the council and to make their work situation "visible".

The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) explained that the bus drivers' working conditions have led to sick leave levels exceeding 20%, which is having a detrimental effect on passengers.

"Long waiting times at bus stops and full to capacity buses that are impossible to access" are some of the problems that have arisen.

The CGT also accuses the operations company Vectalia of trying to "provide the service with fewer buses than are necessary for the proper functioning that the population of Alicante and its metropolitan area deserves".

And it recalls that "the TAM system was created to optimise resources and not to generate differences in service provision between the different municipalities".

The Alicante Metropolitan Transport (TAM) system includes the urban bus lines of Alicante city and the interurban lines between Alicante and El Campello, San Juan de Alicante, San Vicente and Muchamiel. The service is provided by Vectalia SuBus group through its member companies.

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Among other issues, CGT has denounced "working days of up to nine hours in which not all working hours are calculated, insufficient journey times without stipulated breaks, poorly maintained buses, lack of toilets at the head of the bus, lack of security and a significant economic loss in the last 10 years in which it has suffered two ERTE's and minimal wage increases in some cases of 0.5%".

The collective claims drivers are suffering "pressure, proceedings and sanctions, and even dismissals, by the company in situations arising from the poor organisation of the service".

In recent negotiations, the company has refused to budge and stated that it will not modify working conditions.

Drivers began night service strikes last June during the Hogueras bonfire fiestas that led to two-hour delays on the San Vicente del Raspeig and El Campello route.

Prior to this particular strike, Alicante's Councillor for Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility, Rebeca Torró, promised to study the demands of the collective and see "what margin of action" she had, according to the CGT union.

Image: General Confederation of Labour (CGT)

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