SFM and Safety: A Partial Victory — But Is That Enough?

SFM and Safety: A Partial Victory — But Is That Enough?

After the strike threat: Why 15 of 48 points are only a beginning

In the early morning in front of Palma's Estació Intermodal a man stands with a thermos and waits for the train to Inca. To the right the ticket machines beep, to the left the rhythmic grinding of wheels as a train arrives. For him and many commuters the news of the agreement between the management of Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM) and the works council was a relief: 15 of a total of 48 demanded safety measures were agreed. Talks are to continue next Tuesday.

The clear guiding question: Is this partial solution enough to stabilise working conditions and guarantee real safety for employees and passengers? Or is it just a band‑aid over a series of deeper problems?

The structure of this dispute can be briefly described: an acknowledgement of problems, a partial compromise — and open construction sites. The head of the works council welcomed the meeting, but also pointed out that binding safety protocols for everyday operations are still missing. Another point that has not yet been discussed at the negotiating table is the establishment of an independent safety committee.

It is important to separate two levels here. First: the concrete measures that have now been agreed. They are a step forward because they can be implemented immediately and send signals to employees. Second: the structural level — responsibilities, reporting channels, independent oversight — which remains untouched if decision‑makers act only in a piecemeal way.

What has so far been underrepresented in public discourse is the daily practice on the line. In Palma passengers board with shopping bags, bicycles and prams; train staff juggle delay notifications and safety checks at the same time. Such scenes show that safety is not only a matter for expert plans, but for clear routines: Who reports a technical defect? Who decides on line closures? How is night duty organised? Answers to these questions are less often the subject of discussion than headlines about threatened strikes.

Another blind spot is the maintenance of infrastructure. Without regular, documented inspections, piecemeal measures are quickly watered down. This is precisely where publicly visible accountability is often missing: What deadlines apply for maintenance? Who checks whether they are met? Similar lapses were reported in Alarm at S'Escorxador Health Center: When Safety Becomes a Matter of Negotiation.

Concrete approaches that should be discussed now:

1. An independent safety committee with representatives from operations, engineering, passenger advocacy and independent experts. This body should publish minutes and set binding deadlines.

2. Binding daily safety protocols for the start and end of shifts: checklists, reporting systems with timestamps and clear escalation paths.

3. Transparent maintenance schedules with publicly accessible summaries: which works are planned, which have been completed?

4. Training and on‑site checks for staff and works council members, regular and documented, not a one‑off action, as discussed in More Staff for Mallorca's Trains: Is That Really Enough?.

5. Pilot projects on exposed lines (e.g. Palma–Manacor) to test new procedures under real conditions before rolling them out across the network.

These proposals may sound technical — but they are everyday issues. That they are not yet fully on the table explains the scepticism of many employees and the caution of some commuters. When a train is cancelled or doors stick, the information 'it is being investigated' is no longer enough; passengers need reliable time frames and traceable responsibilities.

A small observation on the side: in front of the Estació Intermodal two drivers chat over an espresso about lead times for spare parts. Such unvarnished, unscripted conversations often reveal system problems more than official statements.

Conclusion: The agreement on 15 demands is a success — and at the same time a wake‑up call. A success because dialogue works and a looming labour dispute has been averted for now, as happened recently in Agreement in Medical Transport: Calm, but No Lasting Solution. A wake‑up call because the majority of demands remain open and structural questions unanswered. Without an independent safety body, transparent maintenance plans and binding daily protocols, setbacks and renewed tensions are likely.

My verdict: Negotiation is necessary; now delivery must follow. Otherwise the relief at Estació Intermodal will soon turn back into restless mornings with additional delays and distrustful glances along the tracks.