Two union centers announced strike days spanning the full 24 hours, from 00:00 to 23:00, with specific actions taking place on Friday, 28 October. These disruptions follow a pattern of partial stoppages that have occurred on 7 and 11 November, signaling persistent labor tension within the Renfe group. The calendar also marks important dates around the 9 November holiday, during which the city of Madrid will experience targeted service pauses from 06:00 to 09:00 and again from 18:00 to 20:00. These time slots reflect strategic pauses designed to maximize visibility and impact, while still allowing some essential operations to continue. The broader context involves ongoing negotiations and the management of public transport services amid workforce fluctuations and staffing challenges. The union centers emphasize that the planned actions are aimed at pressing for more reliable and stable employment terms, better long-term planning, and clearer commitments from Renfe regarding service levels during peak holiday periods. In this framework, the public should anticipate periods of reduced service and expect clear communications from operators about any schedule changes, cancellations, or alternative transport options during the protest days and holiday windows.
Renfe’s management has been criticized by the two leading union bodies for delaying the bargaining process on the framework governing the railway group. They argue that the pace of negotiations has not kept pace with the needs of the workforce and that unilateral moves by the company hamper collective bargaining efforts. The unions, including UGT, have called for peaceful demonstrations in front of the House of Representatives to draw attention to what they describe as stagnation in negotiations and to highlight staff shortages across several sectors of the company. These demonstrations underscore the unions’ demand for a transparent and timely negotiation track, with clear timelines and concrete outcomes that would address concerns about working conditions, job security, and the distribution of responsibilities among different units within Renfe.
The core requests from the two major union centers focus on expanding permanent contracts across nearly all divisions within the Renfe Group. They argue that a higher proportion of permanent hires would reduce the reliance on temporary or outsourced tasks, thereby improving consistency, skill development, and service reliability. The unions also stress the need to respond to the evident staffing shortages that affect multiple teams and regions, including front-line operations, maintenance, planning, and customer service. A related point concerns the public transport framework managed by the Government for Cercanías and Rodalíes services, where both the policy context and operational realities must align to ensure robust service levels. Critics point out that extending temporary contracts, while simultaneously extending free subscriptions for distance services through 2023, may contribute to long-term instability and hinder workforce planning. The unions thus press for a balanced approach that preserves flexibility when necessary but prioritizes stable employment solutions and sustainable workforce planning across the Renfe network.