Moventis and trade unions representing bus drivers in L'Hospitalet and El Prat de Llobregat have reached a pre-agreement, potentially ending a labour dispute that has lasted over 18 months and involved court cases.
The proposed agreement still needs to be explained to and voted on by the workforce. Both sides are being cautious until the workers ratify the deal in an assembly. The pre-agreement has the support of Moventis and the CCOO and UGT unions, but not the CGT.
Bus drivers secured an initial victory in February 2026 when a judge partially upheld their claim against Marfina Bus, a Moventis group company operating L'Hospitalet lines. The non-final ruling deemed the substantial changes to working conditions for drivers and other employees unjustified. It stated that conditions should revert to those before 7 January 2025, when Moventis unilaterally restructured shifts and holidays using Article 41 of the Workers' Statute.
Changes to Working Conditions
Moventis appealed the judge's decision. The current pre-agreement aims to move beyond the court's conclusions and any future rulings. The company's use of Article 41 changed the working week from Monday to Friday with optional weekends to Monday to Sunday, requiring all drivers to cover weekend shifts on a rotating basis. It also shifted the holiday calendar, previously concentrated between June and September, to be distributed throughout the year. Moventis has consistently stated these changes were necessary for the service.
Despite the favourable ruling for workers, the judge noted the measure was deemed improper solely due to a 'lack of accreditation of the causes that support it'. The court did not find the measure 'oversized', as the plaintiffs claimed, nor did it find workers were 'defenceless' regarding the measure, as they were aware of it. The works council's claim sought to annul the organisational changes, arguing the company had not notified workers' legal representatives. The court, however, found that after considering all circumstances, 'the nullity sought by the plaintiff cannot be accepted'.
Ongoing Conflict and Sanctions
The labour conflict began in autumn 2024. Since then, strikes, partial stoppages, and legal action by both sides have been constant. Workers argue that a significant part of the problem stems from Moventis being awarded the service after submitting an abnormally low economic offer in April 2024. They point to the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), the authority responsible for the service, for allowing this.
Regular users of L'Hospitalet bus lines and political figures, including L'Hospitalet Mayor David Quirós, have also urged the company to improve the service. The AMB has issued several sanctions against Moventis, including one for €325,000, after detecting new 'breaches' of the bus contract in L'Hospitalet and other Baix Llobregat municipalities. Company sources have previously told El Periódico that punctuality ratios are close to 90% when vehicles leave the depot, with delays occurring between stops due to traffic, traffic lights, and other factors.
If ratified by the workforce, the pre-agreement could bring an end to a protracted dispute, potentially leading to improved working conditions for drivers and a more stable bus service for residents of L'Hospitalet and El Prat de Llobregat.
