Spain's five-day rail strike called off at the last minute
A strike calling for 30,000 rail workers in Spain to strike for five days in November and December has been called off hours before it was scheduled to happen after unions reached a deal with the Spanish government.
Spanish unions representing national rail operator Renfe and infrastructure manager Adif reached an agreement with Spain’s Transport Ministry late on Thursday to call off the strike that was due to begin on Friday.
The strike days were meant to be Friday November 24th and Thursday November 30th as well as Friday December 1st, Monday December 4th and Tuesday December 5th.
Despite the stoppage being prevented, Renfe has warned passengers that there will still be delays on Friday as it attempts to re-establish its regular services.
"It will be progressively be resolved throughout the morning," Renfe said in an announcement.
The initial strike decision came on November 7th, several days after PM Pedro Sánchez and Catalan separatist party ERC agreed to fully transfer control of Rodalies - Catalonia's delay-prone commuter rail service - to the regional Generalitat government.
READ MORE: Catalonia takes full control of Rodalies trains from Spain in win for separatists
Unions initially criticised the lack of information provided to them before the decision was made, and fear that the transfer will result in worse labour conditions for Renfe workers and that Renfe will essentially cease to exist in Catalonia.
"There are commitments to maintain the integrity of the companies and set up a negotiating table," union representatives have said about the last-minute strike cancellation, adding that there is still a signed agreement pending and that another breakdown in negotiations could lead another strike to be called.
Basque Nationalist Party the PNV have also called for powers of the Renfe network in the northern region be transferred to regional authorities, adding to further worries by Renfe and Adif workers that the national network will end up unstructured.
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Spanish unions representing national rail operator Renfe and infrastructure manager Adif reached an agreement with Spain’s Transport Ministry late on Thursday to call off the strike that was due to begin on Friday.
The strike days were meant to be Friday November 24th and Thursday November 30th as well as Friday December 1st, Monday December 4th and Tuesday December 5th.
Despite the stoppage being prevented, Renfe has warned passengers that there will still be delays on Friday as it attempts to re-establish its regular services.
"It will be progressively be resolved throughout the morning," Renfe said in an announcement.
The initial strike decision came on November 7th, several days after PM Pedro Sánchez and Catalan separatist party ERC agreed to fully transfer control of Rodalies - Catalonia's delay-prone commuter rail service - to the regional Generalitat government.
READ MORE: Catalonia takes full control of Rodalies trains from Spain in win for separatists
Unions initially criticised the lack of information provided to them before the decision was made, and fear that the transfer will result in worse labour conditions for Renfe workers and that Renfe will essentially cease to exist in Catalonia.
"There are commitments to maintain the integrity of the companies and set up a negotiating table," union representatives have said about the last-minute strike cancellation, adding that there is still a signed agreement pending and that another breakdown in negotiations could lead another strike to be called.
Basque Nationalist Party the PNV have also called for powers of the Renfe network in the northern region be transferred to regional authorities, adding to further worries by Renfe and Adif workers that the national network will end up unstructured.
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