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The strike had been coming for some time, and yesterday it arrived. Thursday was the first of four planned strike days on Murcia's urban and intercity bus network, and for many passengers it came as a genuine surprise. Bus stops across the city and in Cartagena filled with people who either hadn't heard about the action or didn't know what services were actually running.

 

The scenes were familiar to anyone who has ever been caught out by a transport strike. At Plaza Circular in Murcia, passengers flagged down drivers for information that wasn't being posted anywhere. An elderly woman needed to reach Arrixaca hospital for a 10.30am appointment and didn't know if her bus was coming. University students heading to their first classes of the new term waited with their phones out, calculating whether they could afford to hang on any longer. In Cartagena, some passengers waited more than half an hour. No signs at bus shelters explained the situation.

 

The strike affects around 700 workers across the Region and covers lines connecting Murcia and its outlying districts with municipalities including Molina de Segura, Alcantarilla, Archena, Santomera, Beniel and others, as well as Cartagena and its surrounding area. The core demand is straightforward: an annual work and rest schedule so workers can plan their lives. "It is a fundamental right to guarantee decent work and a minimum quality of life for workers and their families," said Tomás Alburquerque from UGT.

 

The dispute is heading towards a flashpoint on Tuesday September 15, the day of the Fuensanta Pilgrimage, when the Ayuntamiento has decreed 100% minimum services. Unions are calling this "abusive and illegal" and have appealed the order, warning they cannot guarantee full operation. Miguel Cano of USO put it bluntly: "Surely not even Christ will be working."

 

A meeting between union representatives and the Councillor for Urban Mobility is scheduled for today, Friday September 11. Union participation on Thursday was reported at 100% in Murcia and around 75% in Cartagena. The strike continues today and resumes on Monday and Tuesday next week.

 

 

 

Image: Transportes de Murcia