The Government of Catalonia has set minimum service levels for this Tuesday in Barcelona the urban bus network operated by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona Under the decision of the Departament d’Empresa i Treball 20% of the regular service must run between 10am and 4pm; from 4pm to 5pm, when the afternoon rush hour begins, the requirement rises to 40%. In addition, at least one so-called „Bus de barri“ (neighbourhood bus) must operate on each route, along with the staff needed to run the reduced services and resume normal operations.
The measure follows a work stoppage announced by company employees from 10am to 5pm. Staff are holding an extraordinary meeting at the Cocheras de Sants to discuss further steps in a pay dispute. The works council and several represented trade unions say that after ten months of talks and 23 rounds of negotiations, there has been no substantial progress on the new collective agreement. They cite unresolved issues including pay rises, reducing the working week to 35 hours, improved shift patterns, compliance with rest periods and benefits such as the Christmas hamper.
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona says negotiations with the unions are continuing. Passengers have been asked to allow extra travel time and check the latest service notices. Other public transport services in the metropolitan area, such as Rodalies and FGC, have announced no separate restrictions; however, demand may be higher at major interchange points.
The minimum service levels imposed are intended to keep key connections operating while protecting the right to strike. For passengers, this means noticeably longer intervals on many routes, particularly in the late morning and early afternoon. The 40% service level during the one-hour peak period is expected to ease the situation somewhat, though normal service will not be restored. Whether today’s meeting leads to further stoppages depends on the next rounds of negotiations; those involved have so far been cautious in their comments.
The intervention by the Generalitat is common during public transport disputes in Spain. It is justified on the grounds of protecting essential services, with the required level determined by the time of day, demand on the network and transport alternatives. In Barcelona, the dense bus network in neighbourhoods is a key factor, which is why the authorities also require at least one neighbourhood bus on each route.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).