Catalonia’s minimum public services during Wednesday’s general strike will be more restrictive than those in the rest of Spain, public administrations negotiating with unions have announced.
The starkest difference appears in the Rodalies commuter rail network, which will operate at just 25% capacity during peak hours and run no trains at all during the rest of the day.
That level contrasts sharply with the 75% peak-hour service and 50% off-peak service mandated for Cercanías networks in cities like Madrid, Seville, and Valencia, according to official reports.
Business associations Foment del Treball and Pimec expressed surprise last week at minimum service decrees in Catalonia that they labeled extremely low.
Beyond commuter rail, state-level minimum services for mid-distance trains are set at 65%, while high-speed and long-distance routes will operate at 73% capacity and freight transport at 26%.
These minimum services apply specifically to the general strike rather than the two additional strike days called by Renfe train drivers for Tuesday, September 10, and Thursday, September 12.
In Catalonia, Rodalies will operate between 25% and 66% of its usual volume of trains, while other regional networks across Spain maintain identical minimums to the general strike day, except for a 20% freight quota.
Barcelona’s metro, the regional Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, and urban and interurban buses face similar restrictions that clash directly with agreements reached in other autonomous communities.
In Madrid, the metro will function at 80% capacity during peak hours and 50% otherwise, while Valencia’s regional railways will run at 80% with metro and bus lines operating between 70% and 80%.
Aviation minimums nationwide range between 56% and 85% for flights connecting the Spanish mainland with the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition has mandated that at least 20% of gas stations must remain open across every district during Wednesday’s walkout.
Catalonia has agreed to staff primary schools with one teacher for every six classrooms, alongside 50% staffing for special education centers and 33% for kindergarten, dining halls, and other activities.
Madrid and Valencia have established broader ratios, requiring one teacher for every 50 pupils in primary and infant education, or roughly one per two classes, while Valencia specified one instructor for every four lines.
In the healthcare sector, Catalonia guarantees 100% of emergency services and non-postponable treatments, while routine operations will run on a holiday schedule.
Valencia’s hospitals have adopted the same measures, with primary care centers operating on a Saturday schedule.
The regional government of Madrid has agreed to 35% staffing for hospitals and variable professional minimums determined by the patient volume of each primary care center.
Rodalies will operate at a 25% minimum service level during peak hours and offer no service during the remainder of the day.
Catalonia has agreed to one teacher for every six classrooms in primary schools, whereas Madrid has set a broader ratio of one teacher for every 50 pupils in primary and infant education.
Catalonia guarantees 100% of all emergency services and non-postponable medical treatments, while the remainder of hospital operations function on a holiday schedule.
Worth a look
