2017 Spain transportation strikes
The 2017 Spain transportation strikes are strikes primarily made up of by transport services, especially taxis, railways, and buses.
Political and social context
This was not the first time that transport workers have used large events to attract more attention and to create greater effects through their strikes. In February 2016 metro workers in Barcelona carried out strikes during the Mobile World Congress (MWC).[1] In 2015, during the same congress, there were between 30,000 and 40,000 more passengers than usual each day.[1] The 2015 strike has been followed by other strikes that have also attacked major events in order to claim greater effects.
Strikes
Taxi strikes (and strikes against Uber and other ridesharing companies)
There have been many strike actions by taxi drivers protesting the perceived "labor intrusion" by ridesharing companies such as Uber and Cabify. On June 29, a 24-hour strike action took place.[2] The lack of taxi drivers impeded transportation to and from Barcelona–El Prat Airport and Barcelona Sants railway station and pushed the metro and buses to their limits as peoples’ only alternative. The taxi drivers had originally planned a slow march through Barcelona at night, but given the "positive response" from the government, which had promised to pressure the Ministry of Public Works to stop granting more licenses to Uber and other outside services, the taxi drivers canceled their march.[2] Taxi drivers have argued that the ridesharing companies will raise rates as soon as they can seize a hold of transport services in Barcelona, similarly to how they have in other cities and "as has already happened in London."[2] The Transport Law was the focus of the striker’s legal argument. Taxi drivers asked that the government, both the municipal and provincial, respect the proportion of licenses, which is one VTC license (which Cabify cars use) for every 30 taxis.[2]
Strikes by metro operators
Bus strikes
On June 20, 2017 the first day of strikes by bus drivers in Galicia took place. According to the Government of Galicia, strikes affected 67,500 schoolchildren and 90% of regular lines on the first day.[3] On the following day, the strike paralyzed almost 100% of the sector and left 57,000 without bus transportation services.[4] On each day, the strikers massively supported the unions' call against the Government’s plans to reorganize the bus lines.[4] Since the beginning of the strikes, there has been a strong increase in the use of private vehicles in Galicia.[4] Several unions have insisted that the strikes have been planned to continue until an agreement is reached. The unions that participated in the strikes include CCOO, UGT and CIG.[3] In addition to the Government’s transport plan, these groups also protested against the lack of collective bargaining.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Blanchar, Clara; Gozzer Arias, Stefania (2016-02-18). "Metro mantiene la huelga durante el Mobile World Congress". EL PAÍS (in español). Retrieved 2017-07-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Figuls, Josep Catà (2017-06-29). "Barcelona se queda sin taxis en una huelga de 24 horas contra Uber y Cabify". EL PAÍS (in español). Retrieved 2017-07-16.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Coruña, La Opinión de A. "El primer día de huelga de autobuses afecta a 67.500 escolares y al 90% de las líneas regulares". Retrieved 2017-07-16.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "La huelga de buses paraliza el sector y 57.000 alumnos vuelven a quedarse sin transporte" (in español). Europa Press. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2017-07-16.