Spain’s two main public‑sector unions have asked the government to approve a minimum‑service plan for transport on the nationwide strike scheduled for November 11, and have warned members against using telework as a form of strikebreaking.
Thursday, November 7 – Union proposal submitted
General secretaries Lucho Palazzo of the Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras (CC OO) and Ricardo Casas of the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) delivered a joint request to the Ministry of Labour. The document outlines the minimum transport services that should be maintained during the strike, though its detailed contents have not been disclosed.
Thursday, November 7 – Call to reject telework
After submitting the proposal, Palazzo urged workers to refrain from opting for remote work, describing it as “technological strikebreaking” (esquirolaje tecnológico). He said the unions will monitor the situation to prevent widespread adoption of telework as a way to undermine the strike, adding that the task will be difficult.
Thursday, November 7 – Expectation of good faith
Palazzo expressed confidence that participants will act in good faith, stating, “We will assume there will be no bad faith and no technological strikebreaking.” The unions indicated they will remain vigilant throughout the strike period.
Current status
The government has yet to respond to the minimum‑service request. Both unions continue to mobilise members ahead of the November 11 action, emphasizing the importance of collective participation and warning against individual remote‑work arrangements that could dilute the strike’s impact.
Why it matters: The strike aims to pressure the Spanish government on labour reforms. If workers resort to telework, the intended disruption of transport services could be weakened, affecting the strike’s effectiveness and broader negotiations affecting public‑sector employees across Spain.