Travel chaos for passengers as bus drivers go on strike

Passengers faced travel chaos across Catalonia on Monday, especially in the Barcelona area, as bus drivers went on strike. 

The striking workers, from both private and public transport companies, are demanding that the retirement age be brought forward to 60.

The Department of Business and Labor has set minimum services for urban and intercity buses at 40% during rush hour and 20% for the rest of the day.

Rush hour services have been set for between 6.30 am and 9.30 am and between 4 pm and 8 pm.

In the case of school buses and those transporting people with disabilities, minimum services of 85% must be guaranteed.

The strike will last 24 hours, but will be repeated on November 11, 28 and 29, and December 5 and 9.

If their demands are not met, they will go on strike indefinitely from December 23.

The strike has surprised many passengers, who were not aware of the strike. In Girona station, many were frustrated at the disruption, but supported the driver's strike.

One of the more disrupted areas was in Tarragona and Sant Vicenç de Calders, where there is currently a bus replacement service while the work on the Rodalies trains suspends the line.

"It's a bit chaotic," said one passenger. But the minimum service worked as planned, and although some had to wait a little longer, the buses arrived within 20 to 30 minutes.

Striking bus drivers protested throughout Catalonia on Monday morning. In Barcelona, around 800 people gathered outside the offices of the Ministry of Labour on Via Laietana, according to organizers.

Union leaders said the strike was to "preserve their health" and "dignify" their profession, and called on the employers' association to negotiate.

"They are not asking for money, they are trying to preserve their health and the health of all of us who share the road with them," said CCOO union leader Javier Pacheco.

According to the union, 120 workers over 55 died last year. "We are trying to reduce the number of accidents that are dangerously increasing;" Pacheco added.