TALKS TO BREAK BUS STRIKE DEADLOCK

PALMA

TALKS to try and resolve Palma's bus strike began yesterday but not after a second day of industrial action by drivers and administration staff angry that their salaries have not been adjusted in line with the sharp rise in the cost of living over the past two years.

Fortunately for commuters and school children, minimum services were in operation between 5am and 8am yesterday morning, unlike on Thursday when tens of thousands of people were left stranded by the industrial action with just a handful of buses on the streets of Palma.

Yesterday, in accordance with the law, 86 buses were running, half of the norm but the protest still made travelling about Palma a nightmare.
And, following the chaos caused on Thursday morning, there were far less people using the buses, many had arranged alternative transport amidst fears of a repeat performance by drivers and administrative staff.

Further strike action is planned for Monday, again between 5am and 8am and then two 24-hour strikes on May 4 and 5 but yesterday at 11am, the EMT Works Committee sat down for talks with municipal bus company bosses to try and reach a solution to the dispute over pay and working conditions.

On Thursday, EMT Managing Director Fuensanta Paris angrily referred to the drivers as “irresponsible” and explained that the budget laws governing City Council spending apparently do not allow them to raise wages “at the drop of a hat”, especially as the EMT is a publicly-run company which receives municipal financial backing. “And now the workers are wanting an extra five working days holiday in lieu of payment, and that's not a sufficient motive to mount such a damaging strike in such an essential public service,” she said.

It also appears that EMT staff want working conditions improved.
According to the strike committee, conditions at the main depot are far from adequate, especially for those working the long night shifts. They are asking for more toilets and shower facilities, for example.

The negotiations dragged on in to yesterday afternoon with little sign of the deadlock being broken and may well continue today if a solution is not found with EMT bosses determined to avert further industrial action.

The strikes have also caught a number of visitors expecting to catch the shuttle bus to the airport by surprise as well and they were left with no choice but to catch a taxi.