The Madrid City Council has established minimum services for the general strike scheduled for Wednesday, 11 November, aiming to balance the fundamental right to strike with the provision of essential services for citizens. This decision follows a process of dialogue with the organising trade unions, which included two meetings with the strike committee on 3 and 5 November. During these discussions, municipal proposals were presented, and union representatives' observations were considered, although no agreement was reached.
The finalised minimum services were approved through a decree issued on 5 November by Engracia Hidalgo, the delegate for Economy, Innovation and Finance. These services are determined by criteria of necessity and proportionality. Their purpose is not to maintain regular municipal activities or ensure normalcy during the strike but to guarantee only those essential services whose interruption could cause serious harm to life, health, safety, mobility, sanitation, or the care of vulnerable individuals.
The City Council respects the rights of those participating in the strike as well as those choosing to work, ensuring that both options can proceed freely and without undue interference. Among the essential services that will remain operational are SAMUR-Civil Protection, Firefighters, Municipal Police, SAMUR Social, emergency shelters, and the Cold Weather Campaign. Additional services include home assistance, telecare, and support in residences and care centres for the elderly. Essential provisions for children, individuals with disabilities, the homeless, and victims of gender-based and sexual violence will also be maintained.
The necessary arrangements have been made to ensure food supply through Mercamadrid, essential waste collection, urgent cleaning, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and vital mobility services. Furthermore, the Community of Madrid's Ministry of Housing, Transport, and Infrastructure, which oversees the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid, has issued an order mandating minimum services of 40% for buses operated by the Municipal Transport Company of Madrid (EMT) across the entire network, including regular and conventional lines, and 50% for its specific network of special services. In the concurrent network, a minimum of two buses will operate per line, except for lines with only one bus, which will be maintained. Similarly, in the specific network, services will also have a minimum of two buses per line, with the same exception. Night buses ('búhos') will operate on the morning of 11 November with at least one vehicle for each of the 32 lines in service.
Regarding the Municipal Towing Service, minimum services will range from 29% during the morning shift (from 5:45 to 14:48, including overlap), 35% in the afternoon shift (from 13:23 to 22:18, including overlap), and 30% during the night shift (from 21:00 to 6:12, including overlap).
