Spain Faces Widespread Transport Strikes Over Wages and Working Conditions in November

Nationwide Strikes Underway

Unionized transport workers in Spain have initiated a series of nationwide strikes and protests throughout November, with key dates including November 17, 21, 24, and 28. The industrial action stems from demands for increased wages and improved working conditions across various transport sectors. These strikes are expected to cause significant disruptions to travel and logistics across the country.

Demands for Better Conditions and Early Retirement

The primary motivation behind the strikes is the call for increased wages and improved working conditions. Additionally, a significant demand from professional drivers, particularly lorry and bus drivers, is the regulation of early retirement. Unions argue that the strenuous and often dangerous nature of their profession warrants a lower retirement age, citing the increased likelihood of work-related accidents for older drivers. Despite ongoing discussions with government ministries and employers, union representatives state that little progress has been made, necessitating these industrial actions.

Affected Transport Sectors and Unions

The strikes are impacting multiple facets of Spain's transport infrastructure:

• Rail Services: Nationwide rail services, including those in the capital, Madrid, are experiencing disruptions. A major demonstration was held on November 17 outside Cordoba's railway station in Andalusia.
• Road Transport: Lorry and bus drivers, represented by major unions such as CC.OO. and UGT, are participating in the walkouts. These two unions collectively represent approximately 70% of the sector.
• Airport Services: Baggage handling staff from Azul Handling, which services many Ryanair flights, are striking on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the remainder of 2025. This affects major airports including Alicante, Barcelona, Girona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Tenerife South, and Valencia.
• Urban Public Transport: Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Donostia, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pamplona, and Valencia are anticipating disruptions to metro and bus services.

Other unions involved in broader strikes include CGT, IAC, Intersindical-CSC, and COS. The National Platform in Defence of the Transport Sector is also organizing HGV driver strikes.

Expected Impact and Traveler Advice

Travelers should anticipate widespread transportation disruptions and potential traffic delays on the affected dates. Heightened security measures are also expected near protest sites. Authorities advise monitoring transportation service websites for the latest information and allowing extra time for journeys. The impact is expected to be particularly severe in regions like the Basque Country.