Spain’s railway workers strike, shutting down trains across the nation

SPAIN’S train workers have gone on strike for 46 hours, this Thursday through Friday, July 31 and August 1, to protest personnel shortages.

The demonstration has shut down a quarter of Spain’s long-distance and high-speed AVE trains, a third of mid-range regional services, and half of commuter ‘Cercanias’ trains in Madrid.

Catalunya will see the biggest effect with the strike effecting two-thirds of their commuter ‘Rodalies’ trains.

The CC OO – Spain’s general workers’ union – strategically organised the strike for July 31 as it is historically the busiest day of the year for train travel, the time when the ‘turnover’ occurs as people return from holiday destinations.

Their main concern – despite massive service increases planned by Spain’s rail companies Renfe and Adif – is the lack of personnel, demonstrating the companies’ resistance to hire new people even with unemployment rates still soaring.