A bus drivers' strike scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, October 28th, remains on track after the freight transport sector called off their own strike following a last-minute agreement with employers. Unless an agreement is reached today, an estimated 605,000 passengers across the Canary Islands could be affected.
According to the Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs in the Islands (FET), the affected passengers include 60,000 holidaymakers, 45,000 schoolchildren, and 500,000 regular public transport users.
9,000 Drivers Set to Strike
Approximately 9,000 drivers are poised to participate in the strike, potentially affecting around 6,000 buses that provide essential services such as school transport, airport transfers, excursions, and public transportation.
FET Secretary General José Ángel Hernández announced the current status following unsuccessful negotiations with unions. "We are evaluating the possibility of organising a new meeting that could lead to progress in the passenger transport sector," he stated.
Impact of the Free Resident Travel Pass
Hernández noted that the introduction of the free Canary Islands resident pass has led to record-breaking user numbers. Projections suggest that by the end of 2024, the number of travellers could reach 200 million.
Developments in Freight Transport
Regarding freight transport, the Ministry of Social Security will be petitioned to initiate a general procedure to establish reduction coefficients for the retirement age of professional drivers operating vehicles with a payload exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
Social Security Contributions
"This request will also seek compensation for the increase in Social Security contributions resulting from the application of these reduction coefficients, aiming for a decrease in the current contributions for work-related accidents and occupational diseases," Hernández explained.
He highlighted new measures in occupational risk prevention, such as mandatory regular medical examinations for workers and the authority granted to companies to conduct random alcohol and drug tests on their drivers.
Proposal for Contribution Reductions
The FET plans to ask the Ministries of Labour and Social Security to establish a system of reduced contributions for occupational contingencies. This would benefit companies that have significantly lowered workplace accidents or whose drivers have not been responsible for any serious incidents in the past year.
Advancements in Early Retirement
In addition to early retirement discussions, workers' representatives are advocating for voluntary partial retirement through replacement contracts. "The Canary Islands are leading nationally in this regard. In 2024, three provincial collective agreements for both passenger and freight transport have been signed. These agreements incorporate all legally permitted measures to allow workers to access partial early retirement with the commitment to hire a replacement," the FET explained.
