Metropolitan Bus Authority workers to go on strike

The decision to strike was made due to the delay in the implementation of the classification and remuneration plan for Metropolitan Bus Authority employees, the president of the union that represents the workers said.

By The Star Staff

Metropolitan Bus Authority workers, grouped under the TUAMA union, announced Tuesday that they will soon take to the streets on an indefinite strike.

The decision was made due to the delay in the implementation of the classification and remuneration plan for the agency’s employees, TUAMA President Ángel Torres Escribano said.

On Sept. 23, 2023, the union convened a special assembly, which was held three days later, in which, among other things, the union unanimously approved a vote to go on strike.

Torres Escribano said employees have been earning salaries that are not in keeping with the island’s economic reality, marked as it is by excessive inflation.

“In fact, the vast majority of our workers are earning the minimum wage as professional employees, and they have not received a salary increase for more than 14 years,” he said.

After the approval of the strike vote last September, TUAMA and AMA management entered into conversations and understandings to expedite the process of implementing the Classification and Remuneration Plan.

The plan is still in the hands of the Financial Oversight and Management Board awaiting approval.

“Given the severe delay that the implementation of the Classification and Remuneration Plan has taken, we are calling on our enrollment to prepare to exercise the strike vote indefinitely,” Torres Escribano said.