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Murcia bus and tram strikes called off after three-year pay deal
Workers have accepted a 10% rise, although their demand for a fixed annual rest schedule remains unresolved
Murcia’s buses, trams and intercity services will not face further Thursday strikes this month after unions and employers reached a preliminary agreement on pay and conditions.CCOO, UGT and USO signed the deal with the regional transport employers’ association Froet on Wednesday October 14, following talks at Murcia’s Labour Mediation and Arbitration Office, OMAL.
The agreement follows four days of strike action across the Region in September, which disrupted buses and trams during one of Murcia’s busiest periods for public transport.
The new agreement covers 2026 to 2028 and brings an end to planned action affecting urban buses in Murcia and Cartagena, routes to Murcia’s outlying districts, regional intercity services and the Murcia tram.
Workers will receive a 2.9% pay rise for 2026, followed by 4.68% in 2027 and a further 2% in 2028. The final increase is linked to civil-service pay. In total, the agreement provides for a 10% rise over three years.
The 2027 figure includes a review clause. If inflation goes above the agreed level, wages will rise in line with prices.
The strikes scheduled for Thursday October 15, Thursday October 22 and Thursday October 29 have now been cancelled.
The last strike, on Thursday October 8, operated with minimum service levels of 60% at peak times and 40% for the rest of the day. For passengers who have faced reduced or uncertain services in recent weeks, the deal should mean a return to the usual timetable.
The main issue for drivers had been an annual work and rest schedule, allowing them to know in advance when they would be on duty or off. That demand has been left out of the sector-wide agreement so the unions could secure the pay deal. They now intend to pursue it within individual companies.
Other changes have also been agreed. Public holidays falling during annual leave will no longer be deducted from workers’ 31 holiday days. The March bonus will be equalised with the other two extra payments, backdated to January 1, 2026.
A tram-driver category will also be added, giving staff their own salary scale rather than tying their pay to bus-driver terms.
The agreement affects operators including Monbus, Transportes de Murcia, Interbus and bus companies in Cartagena.
You might also be interested in: €1.5 million to keep Murcia's rural bus routes running
Image: tmurcia.com
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