The works council of Avanza and the company's management had reached a preliminary agreement in October last year to resolve a labor dispute affecting the Lurraldebus public transport service. However, the ELA union has reported that the conflict remains open and without a collective agreement, thus warning that it will promote an indefinite strike.
“"The preliminary agreement was presented to public opinion as the end of the conflict and an improvement in workers' conditions. On April 15, in a meeting with the Basque Government, it became clear that the company has no intention of ratifying the preliminary agreement under the agreed conditions to incorporate it into the collective agreement."
The union states that Avanza intends to unilaterally introduce changes to what was agreed during the mediation process, in which the Deputy Ministry of Labor participated as a guarantor. ELA considers this a serious breach of the agreements reached in collective bargaining and maintains that the conflict cannot be considered over as long as there is no agreement that includes what was stipulated.
For this reason, ELA will promote an indefinite strike among Avanza workers with the aim of guaranteeing a dignified agreement for the entire workforce. The strike would affect the lines connecting Bilbao, Donostia, and Gasteiz, as well as all lines from Loiu-Arrasate, Loiu-Donostia, Loiu-Gasteiz, and the Deba valley. Avanza manages the public bus system that links Gipuzkoa with Bilbao, Gasteiz, and Loiu Airport (Bizkaia), in addition to the transport service in Debagoiena.
