Today’s general strike, Wednesday, November 11, in Madrid begins with a judicial ruling regarding minimum services. The Madrid High Court of Justice (TSJM) has issued an emergency injunction suspending the minimum service requirements established by the Community of Madrid for the justice, education, and transportation sectors, with the exception of the Metro. The decision responds to the appeal filed by CCOO against the Governing Council’s agreement of November 4. Although this is not a definitive annulment, but rather an urgent measure while the court rules on the merits of the appeal.
Nor does the ruling leave these sectors without minimum services: the TSJM orders that the suspended staffing levels be replaced with those established for the general strike of November 14, 2012. According to information released by CCOO, the Administrative Litigation Chamber has partially granted its petition and requires the Administration to comply with the measure immediately. The change affects the specific areas included in the order; therefore, it should not be interpreted as a suspension of all minimum services in the region nor automatically extended to other sectors, such as healthcare.
The Madrid Metro is excluded from the suspension of minimum services
The Madrid Metro is expressly excluded from the suspension and will maintain the scheduled service levels for today: 80% of regular trains during peak hours and 50% during the rest of the service. The time slots with the highest coverage are from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Outside these time periods, a minimum of two trains per line and time period is required, except on the Ópera–Príncipe Pío branch and on MetroEste (Line 7B), where at least one train is required.
This development requires a revision of the information on transportation and public services published before the court order was issued, particularly regarding the regional service levels that are now suspended. The ruling modifies the services that must be maintained during the strike by applying the 2012 benchmark. Users are advised to check the updated notices from each operator or facility before traveling, attending an appointment, or conducting business, as the percentages initially announced may have been superseded by the court’s decision.