Transports de Barcelona (TMB) and union representatives have signed a new collective agreement for bus staff covering 2026 to 2029, marking a significant shift in working conditions. The deal, confirmed on Friday 13th November 2026, follows a year of negotiations between TMB management and unions CCOO, CGT, UGT, SIT, and ACTUB.

Under the agreement, bus employees will gain 10 additional annual rest days starting in 2027, reducing their working week to nearly 35 hours. This change is made possible through operational efficiencies, such as allowing buses on the same route to depart from two different depots, cutting empty running kilometres and improving scheduling.

More than 200 new staff will be hired using savings from these changes, ensuring service levels remain unaffected by the increased rest time. The agreement allows for the possibility of extending rest days to 13 if absenteeism drops or further productivity gains are achieved, which would fully implement a 35-hour week.

Enhanced Leave and Pay Conditions

The new framework includes expanded paid leave entitlements. Workers will receive up to 40 hours annually to care for family members, with a new provision for those accompanying relatives undergoing cancer treatment. Leave for civil partnerships and bereavement has also been updated, along with additional days for relocation.

Drivers and supervisors will benefit from revised weekend rest models, offering greater flexibility and associated financial compensation. Salary increases over the agreement’s term will match the maximum legally permitted for public sector workers in Spain.

This agreement puts people at the heart of TMB, strengthening stability and service quality for Barcelona and its metropolitan area.

Stability and Service Continuity

The agreement was validated by staff in a referendum and establishes a stable foundation for labour relations over the next three years. It ends a period of industrial tension, including strike threats earlier in November, which were suspended once a pre-agreement was reached.

By embedding organisational improvements and workforce well-being into the employment framework, TMB aims to maintain high-quality public transport service amid evolving mobility demands in the city and surrounding region.

Sources: TMB.