Moventis and bus unions in L'Hospitalet and El Prat de Llobregat have reached a preliminary agreement, potentially ending a labour dispute that has lasted over 18 months. This development offers hope for a resolution to the conflict affecting bus services in the Barcelona metropolitan area.
Workforce Vote Awaits Final Approval
The pre-agreement now requires explanation and a vote by the workforce. All parties remain cautious ahead of the assembly's ratification. The agreement has support from Moventis, CCOO, and UGT. However, the CGT union does not support the current terms.
The dispute has seen frequent strikes and partial stoppages since autumn 2024. These actions have caused significant disruption for thousands of daily commuters in densely populated areas like L'Hospitalet. Residents have faced delays and uncertainty during their daily commutes. The conflict has also involved multiple legal proceedings from both sides.
Court Ruling Favoured Drivers
Bus drivers secured an initial victory in February 2026. A judge partially upheld their claim against Marfina Bus, a Moventis group company. Marfina Bus manages the L'Hospitalet lines. The court found "unjustified" substantial changes to drivers' working conditions.
The ruling ordered the restoration of conditions existing before 7 January 2025. On that date, Moventis unilaterally restructured shifts and holidays. The company used Article 41 of the Workers' Statute to implement these changes. Moventis subsequently appealed this decision. The pre-agreement now seeks to move beyond the court's conclusions.
Unilateral Changes Sparked Conflict
Moventis's changes altered the working day distribution for employees. Previously, drivers worked Monday to Friday with optional weekends. The new system introduced Monday to Sunday shifts. This meant all drivers covered weekend duties on a rotational basis. This significantly impacted work-life balance for many employees. The company also moved the holiday calendar.
Holidays were previously concentrated between June and September. The new policy distributed them throughout the entire year. This change also affected drivers' ability to plan personal time. Moventis consistently stated these variations were necessary for service development. The company argued they needed flexibility to operate effectively.
AMB Sanctions and Company Defence
The judge's ruling, while favourable to workers, noted the measure's impropriety stemmed from a "lack of accreditation of the causes." It did not find the measure "over-dimensioned" or that workers suffered "defencelessness." The company committee had sought nullity of the organisational changes. They argued Moventis failed to notify workers' legal representatives. The court did not grant this nullity.
Workers insist a key problem was the service being awarded to Moventis. They claim Moventis submitted an "abnormally low" economic offer in April 2024. They point to the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) for allowing this. The AMB is the authority responsible for the service. L'Hospitalet and El Prat de Llobregat are two of the largest municipalities in the metropolitan area.
Local politicians, including L'Hospitalet Mayor David Quirós, have urged Moventis to improve services. The AMB has issued several sanctions against Moventis. One fine totalled 325,000 euros for "breaches" of the bus contract. This applied to L'Hospitalet and other Baix Llobregat municipalities. Company sources have stated that punctuality ratios are near 90% when vehicles leave the depot. They attribute delays between stops to traffic, traffic lights, and other external factors.
The upcoming workforce vote will determine the final outcome of this protracted labour dispute. Its resolution is critical for ensuring stable and reliable bus services for residents across L'Hospitalet and El Prat de Llobregat.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
