The employers' association of discretionary passenger transport by bus in the province of Girona, Asetrans Girona, has expressed its concern about the direct and significant impact that the open conflict between the teaching staff and the Departament d"Educació may have on the sector. The association warns that the suspension and reduction of outings, excursions, and school trips already threatens a key part of its activity.
The entity places the focus on the scope of school camps and cultural outings organized by educational centers, two segments closely linked to discretionary transport. In this scenario, the companies of the sector fear a fall in orders in an especially sensitive period for their statement of results.
Drop in activity in the key months
Asetrans Girona foresees a decrease in activity between March and June, a period of the calendar that it traditionally considers decisive for bus companies that work with discretionary services linked to schools and educational activities.
The employers' association warns that this situation can result in an economic imbalance for many companies, forced to assume structural costs despite the drop in activity. The warning especially affects small and medium-sized enterprises, which have less margin to absorb cancellations or sudden changes in demand.
Blocked bookings and cancelled services
Another of the effects that the association points out is the operational impact that cancellations generate. In many cases, companies had reserved vehicles and resources to provide these services and, at the same time, they have been able to stop serving other clients by having their availability compromised.
That scenario, underlines the employers' association, leaves resources without service and aggravates the economic impact at a time of the year when a relevant part of the activity linked to non-regular school transport is usually concentrated.
Call for a quick solution
Asetrans Girona emphasizes that it respects the legitimacy of the labor demands of the teaching staff, but asks that the collateral effects on the economic sectors that depend on educational activity also be taken into account. The organization understands that the conflict not only affects the centers, but also all the fabric that revolves around excursions, camps, and school trips.
The association hopes that the dialogue between the parties prevails as soon as possible to avoid further harm both to the educational system and to the whole of the economic activity linked to it in the province of Girona.