Spain on Stike:
 

Unfortunately it appears Spain is going heavy into striking mood at present.
The air traffic controllers are "thinking" about starting a 3-day strike from the 21st August 2010. There will be a 10-day warning of this.
There is presently a bus drivers strike. The company affected is called Auto Res it is owned by a larger company called Avanza. One day of action was today (the 9th August 2010) and other days programmed are for the August 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 29th and 31st and on September 1st. On these dates it seems a minimum service (about 50% I think) will be running.
Lastly there is a call for a General strike on the 29th September 2010. Almost everything will be affected if the unions get their way and they did not last time!

Hi Ribeirasacra, thanks for the information. We will be in Spain (Madrid) on September 29 and were warned about the strike with the suggestion that we avoid travel that day, so we have re-arranged our schedule so that on that date we will be staying put in Madrid and not trying to move on to another city.

Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm not familiar exactly what a "General Strike" entails - for those of us who are unsure, can you explain what else besides transport is likely to be affected that day? Does a "General Strike" mean that museums and other attractions will be closed? If so, do you have any suggestions for what a tourist might do in Madrid on the day of a General Strike? What about restaurants - will they be affected?

Thanks so much for any information!

A great deal of public transport and taxis will probably not run, whether unionised or not, as many fear intimidation if strike breaking. The unemployed will also sympathise or march. Who can tell who will sympathise and your hotel, restaurant, bar or museum staff join in (or have the day off to avoid a problem.

Reading the press here in Spain this general strike will include all of those working for the government or government bodies. The term they use is funcionarios. Anybody from street cleaners, bus drivers, police doctors, right past air traffic controllers and on to high civil servants. (to give an examples).
The unions would love to see a lot of disruption and people protesting on the streets. However the last time they called one is went off with a small whimper. So who knows what will happen.
This is in Spanish:
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/econo...lpepueco_1/Tes

The news last week is that the air traffic controllers will not be going on strike in august as initially planned! phew!!

The ATCs strike could be later in the year who knows...so some will escape the problems, thankfully.
The bus situation is not looking good at the moment. and the way this government is talking I presently fee the general strike is gaining momentum.

Same situation in Britain. There is a chance that many of our airports may be closed at the end of August due to strikes.

yanumpty...is that not called a bank holiday?

tt

We are flying on Iberia on 9/3 from Boston to Madrid? Should we expect any problems with this? Also, we have a train set for 9/7 from Madrid to San Sebastian. Again, shoudl we expect any problems?

We haven't had strike problems for a couple of years and that time, it was in France during the rugby games. Joy!

ribeirasacra

Yes, the two do seem to align frequently. Still could be worse, we could have to rely on French air traffic controllers.

May need your help soon. We are looking to arrange a long overdue trip to Northern Spain.

I await your posting.... sin ATCs!

Hi just saw this posting about a general strike on 29th of September, the day we fly into Madrid to start our holiday. Looking on the web , I can't find current news on this (mostly news from June).
Is anyone in Spain at present and know anything about it?
Or does anyone have up to date news on it? I would prefer not to change the date of our travels as it will cost us!

The one day general strike goes ahead, refer to my precis above.

Thanks for replying. Are you in Spain? I know it is still a fair time away but I just rang my travel agent and airline and they have no knowledge of it.

Also wombatt do you know if the air traffic controllers are involved or will the airports be open. Thanks .

Carter 2010,

I am sorry. I have given explanations here and in several other forums of what the possible disruptive effects in this general strike might be. I would like to have said - Who knows? - and left it at that. However, the offence this might have caused to some due to lack of knowledge or naivete precluded this comment.
Whether, I am in Spain or not, (I am not at present),there is media information out there. The strike is on, as of now. Even the band U2 have cancelled a date, hours ago, in Seville (could they be sympathetic?) - see what I mean - who knows?

Best wishes.

I am in Spain and like WomBatt says who knows. A general strike is meant to include all workers. We have to wait an see.
It seems as if the ATC dispute is over because an agreement has been reached.

Thanks again for replying. I rang my travel agent, Qantas, and today I rang our travel insurance company here in Australia - they have no knowledge of it.
So sorry for my continual questions - my search on the internet took me to the European Trade Union Confederation (http://www.etuc.org) and some details for the European Day of Action on 29 September.
Our insurance company said if it happens we are covered for changes. However if our flights are rescheduled we might miss our bus trip. A refund is not much compensation for the disappointment of a cancelled trip.
Thanks again for your input. Still trying to decide if I should pay the extra cost and arrive on the 28th September.

Carter2010,

Sorry, missed your thanks - thanks.

Best wishes.

I appreciate this warning. We will be in Madrid on Sept. 29, but are due to fly home on the 30th. Is this one day strike expected to be over on the 30th? Will we be able to get a taxi to the airport and will the planes be taking off? Thanks for any information. I understand that no one has a crystal ball, but I'm not familiar with one day strikes.

Ifnotnow_when,

My opinion as a watcher of this and as someone who has had a background in 'action'.

This will be a one day strike as forecast and consistently advised.

Your taxi will move the following day. There is a possibility that due to delays caused by action of those sympathetic your flight may be delayed. No further commitment to comment on my part.

This is a general strike, this is not usual. I am glad you have the wit (and have used the term 'no one has a crystal ball') to perhaps be close to understanding, compared to many.

Best wishes.

My sister-in-law is flying home that day, She has already contacted a private transportation company to get her from Plaza Santa Ana to Barajas.

Thank you for the alert.

Adu, she may be at teh airport but she will have to wait with all the other passengers for a revised flight plan.

Just to let you know. Have changed booking to arrive the 28th September. If it doesn't go ahead I will still enjoy an extra day in Barcelona! Thanks again

Silly me extra day in Madrid! Trying to book accommodation in Barcelona at the moment so wasn't concentrating in above reply.

I also changed my travel plans. We were booked to fly from the US to Madrid on the 29th (arriving 7am on the 30th) but was afraid our flight would get cancelled and pushed our trip back one week.

There is now no doubt - http://www.expatica.com/es/news/span...-29_94587.html

It is so unfortunate that holidays have been disrupted due to this general strike ... but I also remember back in May, when Greece was having strikes due to economic cutbacks, and everyone was going tch tch those Greeks! So bad of them! Other countries don't act this way! And now... strikes in Spain, France, London ... next comes Italy and Ireland. I wonder if there will be as much finger-wagging as there was when Greeks protested.