Indefinite strike threatens Barcelona’s bike-sharing service

It’s planned to begin on 14 November

Employees of Barcelona’s bike-sharing service – Bicing – are readying to go on a strike with demands for better pay, which can meet the inflation rate. CGT and CCOO, the trade unions representing the workers, have described the strike as indefinite, although for now, there are plans on how it will proceed in the first three days – 14 to 16 November.

More specifically, the Bicing workforce is demanding a five-year agreement with the city, which will guarantee salary increases in line with the rising cost of living. In addition, there are also demands for the recovery of seniority, better pay on weekends and holidays and the creation of bonuses. 

How might the strike affect residents and visitors of Barcelona?

The strike is set to officially begin at 7:00 a.m. on 14 November. At 10:30 a.m. that day, the workers will gather to protest in Placa Sant Jaume, the site of the Barcelona City Hall, against the perceived lack of dialogue on the part of the local authorities.

CGT advises service users to consider alternative means of transportation for the duration of the strike because there will likely be an insufficient number of Bicing bicycles to meet demand. In addition, broken bikes will not be repaired.

Currently, Bicing has 7,000 bikes on the streets of the Catalan capital, however, according to the workforce of the service that number is not enough to properly meet the needs for soft mobility in the city. Among the demands of the strikers will also be the increase in the number of bicycles plus the improvement of the replenishment service so that broken two-wheelers will be repaired without affecting the offer on the streets.

On 15 November, the employees will protest outside the offices of the public company responsible for running the service, B:SM, and the following day they will return to Plaça Sant Jaume.