Minimum services for March 8 match those of a general strike

An exceptional decree for an exceptional strike. The Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Services yesterday published the details of the minimum services for tomorrow’s strike in Catalonia giving it more or less the same treatment as a general strike, with provisions that affect all areas of public services and institutions. The decree pays special attention to critical services such as transport, providing a minimum service of between 25% and 50% for the various forms of public transport. Commuter trains will run at 33% of normal frequency and at peak times both metro and bus services in Barcelona is fixed at 50%, that figure drops to 25% in off-peak times. Transport for special care groups will not be affected by the strike.

Education and health care also fall into the decree covering minimum services. Schools that decide to strike must have at least one teacher for every six classrooms in primary schools to 12 years and a teacher for four classrooms in special education centers. There is no mention of the universities.

In the health sector, emergency services are required to operate as usual as well as guaranteeing emergency surgery and chemotherapy and other similar treatments. Other providers of emergency services must operate as normal.