The CC.OO. union, Spain’s largest trade union, is calling for a national strike on 29 September from 00:00 to 23:00 across the Spanish rail network in its effort to improve working conditions and offer better pay for its members. The national rail strike, which could coincide with airport strikes on the same day, may affect the local, regional, and high-speed AVE networks.
The CC.OO. represents workers from infrastructure company Adif and the train operators Renfe. Recently it has denounced both companies because of a shortage of staff which, according to the union, is having an adverse affect on service and safety. Furthermore, the lack of investment is causing a deterioration in the infrastructure and inadequate maintenance to rolling stock.
According to Manuel Nicolás Taguas, general secretary of the CC.OO., railway sector, the union has no other option as talks with the Ministry of Public Works have hit a deadlock.
The two public companies employed 26,000 workers in 2017, a reduction of 6,000 from the 32,000 they had in 2005.
“Almost 6,000 jobs have been lost that will have to be recovered if the rail quality standards in Spain are to be maintained”, according to the union.
In July, a strike called by the CGT union resulted in the cancellation of 274 AVE and medium and long Distance trains.
