Basque government sets minimum services for general strike

The Basque Government (Eusko Jaurlaritza) has established minimum service requirements for various public sectors to maintain essential functions during a general strike on Wednesday.

The government mandates that emergency health services will operate at 100 percent capacity. This includes emergency rooms, dialysis, scheduled oncology treatments, and specialized units such as neonatal care and stroke prevention. Hospital transport will also remain fully operational for emergency cases and patients requiring dialysis or oncology treatments.

Other critical services like fire departments, civil protection, and road maintenance will operate with staffing levels equivalent to a public holiday. Public transport will operate at 30 percent of its usual capacity during the strike. The government prioritizes lines without alternatives, those connecting hospitals, and routes for workers entering and leaving factories. In the three provinces of Araba, Bizkai, and Gipuzko, 20 percent of gas stations must remain open.

For social services, the government requires 50 percent of elderly care workers to work during peak hours, while 100 percent of night shift staff must remain on duty. Education institutions in the Basque Country, including schools and universities, will remain open. Each school must ensure the presence of at least one management member, a nurse, a minimum number of teachers for safety, and specialists for students with special needs.

In the justice and administration sectors, offices in Bilbao, Gasteiz, and Donostia will stay open with enough staff to accept documents. Energy and telecommunications companies must also maintain staffing levels similar to a public holiday to ensure network functionality and supply.