I have just received notification from UK Government of a national strike in Spain tomorrow, 11 November, which is likely to affect transport. It was suggested that if you intend to travel, you check with your transport provider. No other information was given.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3511 posts
And the question is?
I mean, is there any specific thing you need to know?
Yes, there's a general strike -albeit I am not certain it'll be seconded by everybody this time over, at least here in Catalonia. Many micro and small companies and self-employed people are not in a position to close their businesses, especially at this time of year. We'll see in tomorrow's evening newscasts the real support that the strike has had.
Anyhow, the 'problem' -if you intend to travel to Catalonia- is that the Spanish train conductors' syndicate has started a separate strike today, tomorrow and the next day, which has certainly left quite a chaotic day. They have not fulfilled the 'minimum services' -in this part of the world, the rights to strike for basic services such as transportation, health, etc. are regulated by the government, and they can't just stop altogether. When they announce a strike, the government sets a minimum level of service to avoid damaging everyone else's rights too much. This time they haven't complied -we'll see how it ends (legally). The result has been quite a bit of chaos; everybody who needed to commute was either taking their own cars or chasing public buses.
If you're travelling tomorrow to Barcelona, it shouldn't be a problem to reach your hotel/apt since there are several options from the airport: metro, bus, train. But provide some extra time since the frequency will certainly be lower (not one every X minutes as usual).
Posted by
Bilbao
1101 posts
The general strike on November 11 in Spain was called by the major labor unions to demand better wages, affordable housing, and measures to curb rising prices. The strike has brought many industrial facilities, schools, shopping centers, city centers, and public transportation to a standstill, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the city or region.
Posted by
New York City
7 posts
Is it known how long the strike is intended to last? Or is it open-ended?
Thanks!
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
1094 posts
From what I read in international English-speaking news media, the strike was called for just one day; there might be some local extensions like Madrid teachers for example.
Posted by
Bilbao
1101 posts
The strike was just for one day and it´s already over.
Posted by
New York City
7 posts
Thank you! I'm going to Madrid soon, so this is good to know.