Spain: Unionized rail workers plan industrial action nationwide through at least mid-March /update 2

Unionized rail workers affiliated with Spanish Union of Railway Machinists (Sindicato Espanol de Maquinistas Ferroviarios, SEMAF) and employed by state-owned railway RENFE plan to strike on several days in early March in protest over hiring policies and working hours. The union has called for 24-hour strikes March 1, 4 and 12, as well as strikes between 07:00-10:00, 13:00-16:00, and 19:00-22:00 March 6. It remains possible that the strikes will not go ahead, with RENFE stating Feb. 21 that permission to hire additional employees had been granted by the Ministry of Finance, meeting a key union demand. SEMAF has yet to retract the call for strike action, however, and no agreement appears to have been reached over working hours.

The strikes follow labor action by the Workers' Commissions (Comisiones Obreras, CCOO) and General Union of Workers (Union General de Trabajadores, UGT) unions throughout February over similar issues.

The labor action will significantly disrupt rail transport services nationwide. However, the minimal service guarantee of Spain's Ministry of Transport will likely mitigate some rail disruptions. During the work stoppage, striking workers may also demonstrate at transport hubs, such as major railway stations or government offices. Lingering rail disruptions are possible after the strike concludes, as services return to normal.