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Cartagena bus drivers plan fresh strike over alleged unpaid rest days
UGT says staff are at breaking point as it calls for action over pay, overcrowding and digital tickets
Cartagena’s city buses could face fresh disruption next week after UGT announced a programme of strike action over what it says are unpaid rest days, overcrowding and the continued lack of digital payment options.The union is planning protests between Monday September 21 and Sunday September 27, with a two-hour strike due to begin on Tuesday September 22 from 10.00am to 12.00pm. A rally is also planned for 10.00am that day, outside the Cartagena Ayuntamiento.
UGT says the dispute is separate from the regional transport strike which affected bus and tram services earlier this month. That action saw reduced services across Murcia, including Cartagena, with 60% of buses running at peak times and 40% at other times.
At the heart of the latest row are what the union calls “paid days”. It says drivers should work a five-day week with two rest days, but claims that for several months they received three days off in each two-week period rather than four.
According to UGT, this left each driver with seven unpaid days between January and April 13. The union estimates that around 145 employees are affected, with about €900 outstanding per worker. It says payment had been expected between April and June but has still not been made.
The union says it has held several meetings with the Ayuntamiento but believes these have not led to a solution. Its message is blunt: “Workers at their limit, users affected: City Council, act now!”
The timing of Tuesday’s protest is likely to draw attention. It falls on World Car-Free Day, when the Ayuntamiento is due to offer free public transport as part of European Mobility Week. UGT says that was one reason for choosing the date.
Overcrowding is another major concern. The union claims that some drivers are carrying between 600 and 700 passengers during a single shift, creating increased pressure and stress for workers while also affecting passengers.
It is also calling for a move away from cash-only payments. Cartagena needs “21st-century transportation”, UGT says, arguing that digital payment systems should be introduced on city buses.
Earlier regional strike action left some passengers in Cartagena waiting more than half an hour, with no information displayed at bus shelters.
Minimum service levels for the Cartagena action have not yet been set. UGT expects strong support but says the eventual percentage required to work will determine how many staff can join the strike. A further demonstration has been requested for Wednesday October 1, from the Regional Assembly to Cartagena Ayuntamiento.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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