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Bus strikes go ahead in the Region of Murcia this week
Up to 50% of Murcia buses will be off the road this November 28 and 29
Even though UGT, the union representing the majority of professional drivers in Spain, has called off its industrial action following an agreement with the Ministry of Transport, the bus driver strikes will unfortunately go ahead in the Region of Murcia this Thursday November 28 and Friday 29.
City, local and long-distance coaches and buses will all take part in the work stoppages, but the Spanish government has decreed that 50% of services must still operate normally, at a minimum.
Passengers who have booked trips farther afield have been advised that the bus companies will contact them to offer a free date change.
Across the country, bus drivers began their seven days of industrial action, aimed at securing early retirement, on October 28, although the strikes scheduled for November 11 were cancelled following the DANA.
Although UGT and SLT have advised their workers not to strike, this latest wave is being pushed by the CCOO union, which represents more than 40% of bus drivers.
They argue that the agreement reached between UGT and the Ministry isn’t sufficient as it could still be quashed before it’s officially approved. Moreover, the union has criticised the number of hoops it has to jump through: if the early retirement deal goes through, it will likely be February before it comes into force, whereas previous strikes by other transport workers saw results in just 20 days.
In the rest of Spain, minimum bus services will also have to be provided this Thursday and Friday, although what ‘minimum’ actually means varies from region to region. In Catalonia, for example, 40% of buses will run during peak hours but this will be reduced to 20% the rest of the time while in Madrid, intercity trains will have 80% of their services during peak hours and 45% during off-peak hours.
If no satisfactory agreement is reached, the strike will continue on December 5 and 9, and from December 23 indefinitely.
Image: Archive
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