Date Published: 19/05/2022
ARCHIVED - Murcia truck drivers threaten more strike action in July
Truckers in the Murcia Region demand government action over rising diesel prices
The Regional Federation of Transport Organisations and Companies of Murcia (FROET) has called on self-employed truckers to abandon threats of another transport strike in July to protest the working conditions of professional drivers.
Although the government has implemented its 20 cent reduction on the price of fuel, the Platform for the Defence of the National and International Road Freight Transport Sectors, who threatened industrial action back in March, wants an explanation as to why the price of diesel in Spain has exceeded the European Union average, despite this country having one of the lowest taxation levels.
According to the Platform, the price of diesel has risen 60 cents in the last year and the spikes in filling stations have eaten most of the government’s 20 cent discount, leaving professional drivers in no better position than before.
The Ministry of Transport has already acknowledged that big oil companies have been hiking fuel prices to offset the cost of the discount, and it’s likely that the framework for applying the petrol and diesel bonuses will be changed in the coming weeks.
In addition, representatives are sceptical that the law promised by the government that will prevent truckers working below cost will be enforced before the June 30 deadline. If this date is not met, the Platform’s president Manuel Hernández has promised, truck drivers will go on strike.
“You made a commitment that on June 30 2022, the Law Prohibiting Contracting at a Loss in the Road Freight Transport Sector would be prepared and that is the number one need for us,” Mr Hernández explained.
The Murcian federation, however, has stressed that another strike by transport companies in the Region is “not going to solve anything,” but has equally appealed to the Spanish government to address the issues.
“It cannot be that the increase does not reach the self-employed, because they will end up killing the goose that lays the golden eggs,” he said this Wednesday at a press conference.
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