Drivers Strike Over 'Impossible' Unir Timetables, Warn of Safety Crisis Before Disaster Strikes

Drivers Announce Strike Over Unsafe Timetables

Workers from Auto-Viação Feirense have announced a strike on Friday and the 29th against the timetables for lot 4 of the Unir network, which they describe as "impossible to fulfill safely" and must be corrected "before a disaster occurs".

Caption: About 100 drivers operate the routes between Vila Nova de Gaia and Espinho in the Unir network. Photo: Amin Chaar

Decision Made in Workers' Assembly

The decision was made in a plenary session at the Feirense facilities in Lourosa, Santa Maria da Feira municipality, with representatives from approximately 100 drivers who handle routes between Vila Nova de Gaia and Espinho in this public transport network of the Porto Metropolitan Area.

According to Hélder Borges, a leader of Fectrans - Federation of Transport and Communications Unions, "the existing timetables are not compatible with safe driving, and the level of cleanliness and maintenance is chaotic". He added, "We are going on strike to alert about this and see if decent inspection starts, before a disaster happens and they come to tell us we didn't warn them in time."

Blame on Multiple Parties

The unionist blames both Unir, which sets the timetables, and Feirense, which commits to fulfilling them even knowing they are unfeasible. Regulatory bodies like the Authority for Working Conditions and the Institute for Mobility and Transport are also not fulfilling their roles properly by allowing this situation to continue.

Examples of Unrealistic Routes

As examples of routes impossible to complete in the announced time, Hélder Borges points to the journey between Vendas de Grijó in Pedroso, at the southern end of Gaia, and Praça D. João II in Porto, or the route between the latter and Largo da Feira dos Carvalhos, also in Pedroso, via Senhora do Monte. "Unir wants these trips to take 30 minutes, but drivers cannot do them in less than 40 minutes at best," meaning that by mid-morning, one of the four or five scheduled trips has already disappeared and been canceled.

Consequences for Drivers and Passengers

Beyond delays, there is the added problem that people wait at stops for a bus that never arrives, leading to conflicts with drivers who are already stressed. Drivers end their days exhausted, with only a 30-minute lunch break instead of the required 60 minutes. The cleanliness and maintenance of buses are also very poor, worsened by the school period with more students, more stops, and accumulating delays.

Priority on Safety Over Other Issues

Hélder Borges notes other unresolved issues like low wages and an unupdated meal allowance for two years, but emphasizes that "the priority is safety". The most feasible solution is "correcting the timetables to allow compliance with speed limits and safe driving".

Unir's Response

Contacted by Lusa, an official source from Transportes Metropolitanos do Porto stated, "We have not detected any timetable that is impossible to fulfill. All assigned times are perfectly feasible". Regarding other issues raised by Fectrans, Unir says they are "unrelated," as Unir has no responsibility for drivers' work schedules or alleged labor overload. "It is up to the operator to assign routes to each professional and ensure their good physical and mental condition," with examples like drivers switching buses for less tiring routes.

Attempt to Contact Feirense

Lusa tried to contact Feirense, which owns the Beira Douro brand also operating for Unir in Gaia and Espinho, but calls were not answered.

Background on Unir Network Operators

In the Unir network, lot North Nascente (Santo Tirso/Valongo/Paredes/Gondomar) is operated by Nex Continental, North Poente (Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde) by Porto Mobilidade, North Centro (Maia/Matosinhos/Trofa) by Vianorbus, South Poente (Vila Nova de Gaia and Espinho) by Transportes Beira Douro, and South Nascente (Santa Maria da Feira/São João da Madeira/Arouca/Oliveira de Azeméis/Vale de Cambra) by Xerbus.