The Spanish Union of Railway Engineers (SEMAF) announced this Wednesday the call for a general strike across the entire Spanish railway system due to what it considers a situation of serious deterioration of the railway network and staff shortages, responsibilities that, according to the union, fall on the Ministry of Transport, headed by Óscar Puente. This measure comes after the deaths of three railway workers in accidents, including the incidents in Adamuz (Córdoba) and Gelida (Barcelona).
In a statement, SEMAF denounces that the railway infrastructure does not offer the necessary safety conditions for normal operation and that the lack of personnel increases the risk for all workers and users. The union assures that these circumstances endanger the safety of both trains and the professionals who work with them.
The organization has openly explained that the strike, for which no specific dates have yet been set, aims to demand the adoption of immediate measures to guarantee the safety and reliability of the entire railway network. Among its demands are the suspension of services when safety protocols are not met, as well as the public determination of who is responsible for the safety of the tracks and trains.
SEMAF has also criticized the reopening of services on lines that, in its opinion, do not offer sufficient guarantees, and has called for existing safety protocols to be applied. According to the union, the aim of the strike is to support workers and demand measures to make railway operations safer for everyone.