The problems with public transport in Lanzarote continue. The lack of buses and drivers throughout the island continues to be the main concern for both citizens and drivers. In an interview on Friday morning on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, the CCOO delegate at IntercityBus, Ricardo Hernández, acknowledges that "we continue with the same problems, despite having signed the company's collective agreement." An agreement that "was going to bring more hiring and expand services throughout the island", he adds.
But "unfortunately, workers have to continue enduring daily aggressions", complains the union delegate. In the case of staff working in offices, they are "verbal aggressions" and in the case of drivers, they become "physical aggressions", a behavior motivated by "the poor service we are giving", adds Hernández.
It must be made clear that "we want to provide a good service to citizens, but it is beyond our control", laments Hernández. The response from the public administration is always the same: "that there are no drivers", says the president.
A "surprising" response since "in different private or tourism companies we see new faces", comments Ricardo. "We know that there are drivers who have submitted their resumes and are not called", he adds. So, "what is happening that there are none in the public service?", he asks. "Supposedly the Cabildo had made an offer to sponsor professionals to get their bus license."
Given the Cabildo's decision to enable new buses for the summer festivals on the island, Ricardo makes it clear that: "Just as they look for more buses for the festivals, they should also do it for the daily days."
"Just as they look for more buses for the festivals, they should also do it for the daily days."
Hernández warns that the staff "are at the limit, we can't take it anymore, we can't go on like this." Sometimes, "there is no time to rest on many lines due to the excess of passengers", he confesses. We are in a "critical" situation, for which "we are not to blame" and with which we "put ourselves in the place of the citizens." He also emphasizes that "it is not easy for drivers to leave people stranded either."
Regarding the staff, "we are missing drivers", since "many have left, have taken medical leave or are on vacation", he points out. In cases where "five or six drivers are missing, even if there are hirings of three or four, if they leave shortly after joining, we continue in the same situation", highlights Hernández.
We ask for the "immediate collaboration from the public administration to find solutions", concludes Ricardo.
