«Titsa workers are prepared to face free public transport starting next January 1». This is how resounding Carlos Hernández Velázquez and Víctor González Cabrera, president and member, respectively, of the Company Committee of the public bus company of the Cabildo state. They recognize that there is “some uncertainty” in the workforce and “some doubts” before the entry into force of the measure to benefit users with a bonus. In addition, they are clear that, as already happened with the 50% discount, applied since September, “there will be problems in the first months.”
The representatives of the group consider that “precious time has been lost since August – when it was announced by the Government of Spain– to organize and have everything planned”, but they guarantee that “he will get ahead due to the professionalism of all his colleagues”. They insist that they are talking about the 1,800, not only drivers, but also mechanics, administrative staff, inspectors, technical service, etc. They calculate that Titsa is “the third company in the country” in the transport sector. Another bet is to promote powerful information campaigns that raise awareness among citizens.
Both spokespersons for the staff belong to Intersindical Canaria (IC), the majority force with 43 delegates, 60.5%, in a single committee of 72, after the 2019 elections. They compare what is coming before a demand that will increase from of January 1 – between 7% and 20% depending on the lines – with what happened after the half-price discount for frequent travelers: «It is an important and complicated leap at first, although as people adapt to a gratuity that is obtained from the trip number 16 with the use of a voucher, everything will be ordered little by little ».
some uncertainty
Hernández and González express the “uncertainty” of drivers in the face of the new reality. They explain that “it is in favor that the bus has a regular user who already knows the system from the creation of the Ten+ card a few years ago.” They add that “It already happened with the discount for children under 10 years of age. There will always be someone who is clueless, the majority, or some rogue but it is explained; daily bread for the driver is dealing with people.
What worries them the most “is the economic part.” They argue that “in 2012 we suffered a crisis situation that led us to an ERTE to save the company and jobs.” They emphasize that the current process “seems regulated, budgeted and with clear regulations that emanate from the law but we remain vigilant.” Also with financing “because a significant investment is necessary.” Then there are external factors and unpredictable forecasts for 2023, such as the war in Ukraine, fuel prices or the local elections in May. For this reason, they conclude, “what is very beautiful now, can be a catastrophe at the end of next year.”
Regarding the training of new drivers, they clarify that “it is not promoted now exactly to face the increase in demand, but rather it is a promotion called in 2019 and paralyzed by the pandemic.” In this bag there will be 230 drivers who “will all enter with the same conditions as the rest from minute 1 as always in this company,” they emphasize.
But there is an average of 50 retirements a year and you have to face a deficit of the last four. That is, about 200 fewer workers. Therefore, “they enter, more or less, one for the other that leaves.” In 2023 “we will be almost in the same number of staff as in 2019.” They add that “early retirement personnel, between 62 and 65 years of age, are included.”
Hernández assesses: «2019 was one of Titsa’s best years and the positive data is repeated in 2022, among other things due to the 50% discount. But in 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic, the necessary policies were not made, such as the purchase of vehicles, which can take up to years to arrive due to the lack of supplies. One of the main problems is the lack of buses. Despite this, they assure that “we are going to move it forward due to the commitment of a very professional staff.”
Hernández reflects: “There has been a very powerful evolution in recent years with tools such as Big Data that allows quantifying and analyzing the passage in minutes or the operating system.” Gratuity has now arrived and “these resources have not been fully used.”
The workers remember the strike notice for last September 7 “for various breaches of the collective agreement.” The mobilization was called off due to what the unions understood as an “excess of minimum services, 75%, named by the owner of the company, the Cabildo.” That is denounced. Nor do they agree with some dismissals that they intended to replace with other types of sanctions, although some cases acknowledge that “they are indefensible.” The conflict remains latent.
The difference with the tram
From Titsa they value the frequent contact with «the 150 tram companions, but their reality is very different. They put them in doubles if they have the need to do so and they gain much more capacity even if putting more means complicating traffic in the city.
The drivers don’t want to be the bad guys in the movie. They clarify: «We defend free but sustainable transport. The vao bus lanes throughout the Island are key and promote public transport by bus. Perhaps they have thought too much about trains.
They also recognize that there are people who today stay at the stops, especially in the south: «It is essential to improve these lines but there is «an uncontrollable part of the population because you do not know the tourists that may be accommodated as a floating population. This exponential growth must be taken into account and it worries us.
Despite expressing doubts about the lack of buses and the difficulties of the first months, they conclude: “With our professionalism and experience, we are sure to overcome this challenge of being free.”
