Spanish Rail Trade Union Calls Two 24-Hour Renfe Strikes During Peak Summer Travel

The railway workers' union has announced two 24-hour strikes at Renfe — on June 29 and July 15. Both dates were deliberately chosen during the period when Spaniards travel en masse for their summer holidays. The union accuses the company's management of failing to honor agreements reached with the Ministry of Transport on November 23, 2023.

According to the union, Renfe's management breached its commitments to preserve staff working conditions during the search for a strategic partner for the Renfe Mercancías division (freight transport). In particular, the company put out to tender the maintenance of the 333.3 series locomotives, which had previously been carried out by its own specialists. The union claims this tender reduces the workload of the repair depots and has "serious" consequences for staff working conditions.

In addition, the union accuses management of failing to honor agreements to increase Renfe Mercancías' business volume, coordinate operations with Renfe Ingeniería y Mantenimiento, and maintain workloads within the group. According to available information, management has also announced plans to permanently close the rolling stock repair workshop in Miranda de Ebro.

The union's fundamental discontent stems from the deal between Renfe and the Portuguese operator Medway. Workers were not informed about the content of the agreement or its possible consequences for staff working conditions. According to the statement, this entire situation represents a "serious threat" to Renfe's workforce and creates an "atmosphere of uncertainty."

The union additionally calls for the dissolution of the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) or a restriction of its powers. The union believes the regulator should consider competition only between private companies and leave state-owned enterprises alone.