It’s not a happy day in Stockholm today. Why? Bus drivers are on strike. It’s actually day two of no buses, and from the looks of it, it will continue a little bit longer. And if no agreement is reached, the strike may spread to other parts of the country. I’ve just read that here in Västerbotten the walk-out is tentatively scheduled for next Tuesday.
So what’s the reason behind all this? As always – money. Or rather, not enough of it. The bus drivers’ union – Kommunal, and the employer – Bussarbetsgivarna can’t quite agree on a new contract, in other words – the usual stuff.
The public at large, even though inconvenienced, seems very supportive of the drivers’ strike. The tourists, however, are another story. A friend of mine who’s in Stockholm bemoans the fact she foolishly bought a transit pass. I told her to ride the metro instead. But happens when you want to visit tourist destinations that are only accessible by bus? Rent a car? No? I didn’t think so. You’re simply going to skip those. And as a result, the biggest losers will be people working at popular tourist sites, nearby shops and restaurants. Such is life…
