Around 300 union representatives CCOO, UGT, CGT and CNT on the morning of 11 November 2026 Valladolid traffic on Avenida de Zamora for almost half an hour. They positioned themselves at the entrances to the bus depots of the municipal bus company AUVASA and blocked Avenida de Zamora at the junctions with Bronce and Arca Real.
Despite the presence of the piquetes, several buses managed to leave the depots. AUVASA implemented the previously announced Servicios Mínimos, meaning that services operated on a reduced basis rather than being suspended altogether. The company had defined in advance the journeys and services considered essential for basic provision, and ran them as planned on the strike day. Passengers nevertheless had to expect delays and cancelled services.
The action in Valladolid was part of a nationwide strike day. The Ministry of the Interior had instructed the security forces the previous day to ensure the right to strike while also tackling violent blockades and protecting critical infrastructure. Against this backdrop, additional police officers were present in the city. By midday, there were no confirmed reports of injuries or significant property damage linked to the brief blockade.
Tensions between employee representatives and the city authorities in Valladolid are focused primarily on working conditions and the organisation of public transport timetables. While AUVASA pointed to its compliance with the Servicios Mínimos, union representatives criticised what they saw as inadequate staffing and pressure on timetables. No specific negotiations over the demands raised on the strike day had initially been reported.
In practice, the immediate effect of the blockade was limited to traffic disruption in the Avenida de Zamora area and delays on some routes. The municipal transport service was able to maintain the stipulated minimum services. Whether further protests or an expansion of the measures would follow in the coming days remained unclear that evening. Officials initially made no comment.
The case in Valladolid illustrates the usual fault line on strike days: unions use targeted blockades to increase visibility and bargaining power, while municipal operators maintain basic mobility through minimum services and authorities set a framework that balances freedom to demonstrate with public order.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).