New Strike of Interurban Buses in Alicante During the Hogueras de San Juan

New episode in the conflict of Alicante's interurban buses. The drivers of the metropolitan road transport will call for strikes again, with the threat of an indefinite strike starting on September 8th if the situation remains unchanged.

Thus, in a statement issued by the Works Council of the service concessionaire, the workers announce strikes on the last Thursday of each month, coinciding with the Plenary Session of the Alicante City Council. Additionally, the service will be at a minimum during the Hogueras de San Juan festivities, during which the drivers have called for another strike.

The stoppage will extend until the end of summer and will become indefinite from September 8th if no agreement is reached. Union sources also indicate that various demonstrations and actions will be carried out during these strikes in front of the Department of Transport and the Alicante Transport Coordination Office (TAM). In fact, they announce that «mobilisations will be maintained and expanded as long as real and effective measures are not adopted.»

The Works Council states in a communiqué that the decision is made «in light of the severe deterioration of the service caused by the inaction of the competent public administrations and the responsibility of the concessionaire.» The workers denounce «the continuous extensions of the bidding process since 2014» and assert that the service «is calculated well below the real demand, generating a progressive collapse.»

The drivers conducting the strike argue that the number of passengers «has exceeded the contract's forecasts by more than two million without reinforcing the fleet and driving staff.» Similarly, the communiqué issued by the Works Council highlights «the necessary renewal of an aging fleet with 70% of vehicles over 12 years old.«

Once again, they criticise the «deplorable state of the stops» and directly point to the Department of Transport and the municipalities of the metropolitan areas where the service operates. They reiterate their call for the concession to be rescued and managed by the Administration and demand the creation of a Metropolitan Transport Entity to «control and manage public transport.»