Train unions call five-day strike against transfer of Rodalies control to Catalonia

Train unions have called a five-day strike to protest against the transfer of control of the Rodalies commuter network to Catalonia. 

Staff at Spanish public rail companies Renfe and Adif will take industrial action on November 24 and 30 and December 1, 4 and 5, to show their opposition to a key aspect of the deal agreed between pro-independence Esquerra Republicana (ERC) and Spain's Socialists in their negotiations over the reelection of Pedro Sánchez as Prime Minister. 

The strike will last 24 hours on each of the days, the last two of which fall just before two bank holidays, December 6 and 8, in what is normally one of the busiest travel periods of the year. 

The entire railway network will be affected, including high-speed rail. 

As well as protesting against the agreement between ERC and the Socialists announced last Thursday, the strike is also against the privatization of Renfe Mercancías, the rail freight transport division. 

Union views 

The Semaf trade union, which represents a majority of train drivers, expressed its total opposition to Spain handing control of Rodalies over to Catalonia as soon as it was announced. 

On the other hand, unions such as CCOO and UGT are not opposed to the transfer of powers but warn that it is a "very complex" process. They demand that all staff are retained, and that their working conditions and rights are maintained.  

The ERC-Socialists agreement foresees the creation of a new public company, Rodalies Catalunya. It would have a board of directors with equal representation from the Catalan and Spanish administration, but with the president – who would have a casting vote – proposed by the Catalan executive. 

Catalonia guarantees workers' rights 

In response to the strike announcement, Catalonia's territory minister, Ester Capella, has stressed to Renfe and Adif staff that the government will guarantee workers' rights. 

"The agreement itself established very clearly that union and labor rights will be guaranteed, as they should be," Capella said at the press conference following Tuesday's cabinet meeting. 

The first lines to be transferred are R1, R2 South and R3. Renfe will "cease to operate" in Catalonia, Capella said, to be replaced by Rodalies Catalunya. 

Government spokesperson Patrícia Plaja emphasized that the Catalan government "always" defends workers' right to mobilize.