As of today, 8 July, there are three industrial actions due to take place in Mallorca and the Balearics in the next couple of weeks which may affect tourists while on holiday or disrupt travel arrangements.
Hostelry workers' strike. This is scheduled for 20 July and would affect workers in hotels and in restaurants. The dispute is over pay and conditions. The current status with the dispute is that a further meeting of the arbitration tribunal is scheduled for Tuesday, 10 July to see if a resolution can be found.
Transunión public transport bus drivers. Transunión operates some public transport services, most obviously in Pollensa. Drivers are due to strike on 16 and 17 July over non-payment of salaries, the result of Transunión having not received subsidies owed by the regional government.
Coach drivers' strike. This is separate to the Transunión dispute, though the company will also be caught up in this action as it is a major operator of coach services. This strike is due to take place on 21 and 22 July and is also over pay and conditions. There is, at present, no news of any attempt by the arbitration service to intervene, though this cannot be ruled out and may well depend upon the outcome of the hostelry workers' arbitration. The action would have greater impact than the others in that it would affect transfers to and from airports and ports as well as excursions. Tour operator coach services and private operators would both be affected.
In addition to transfers, the strike, if it goes ahead, could well disrupt flights. Without the means to move passengers, airlines may be forced to cancel. There are, as yet however, no notices coming from the airlines to this effect and nor are there any notices from ABTA, the Foreign Office or tour operators. It should be emphasised that the strike could be called off.
Alternatives to transfer coaches are limited. There are of course taxi services as well as public bus services, but both would be stretched way beyond an ability to cope were there were to be no transfer coaches or only limited numbers.
If you are scheduled to travel to or from Mallorca or the other Balearic Islands on 21 and 22 July, you should keep in regular contact with your tour operator or agent and/or airline. For anyone who has made a booking with a transfer agency, you should also keep regular contact with it in order to check the current situation.
Further information, as and when available, will be posted to this blog and to Twitter @alcudiapollensa
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