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ARCHIVED - Spanish transport sector rejects 500m euro diesel strike deal
Strike organisers in Spain call the government’s offer “a joke” and vow to continue work stoppages
The Spanish government has taken out its checkbook in an attempt to end the national transport sector strike called by the Platform in Defence of the National and International Road Freight Transport Sector last week, but its offer of 500 million euros of direct aid in the form of professional diesel discounts has been categorically rejected.
Miguel Cánovas, a member of the platform, believes that the Ministry of Transport’s offer is “a joke in bad taste” and “an offence to carriers,” and for this reason, the strike will continue indefinitely until the government sits down with the group and considers their request.
This seems increasingly unlikely, however, as the Ministry last week accused the organisers of being “ultra right-wing” and has refused to hold talks with anyone other than the National Committee for Road Transport (CNTC).
In addition to the fuel bonus, the government has agreed to change the professional diesel refund system, so that truckers will be reimbursed 50 cents per 1,000 litres every month, rather than every three.
Despite the fact that both the Ministry and the CNTS consider these measures, which will come into effect on March 30, sufficient, the carriers are far from satisfied, not least at not being represented at the talks.
“They cannot negotiate on our behalf,” Cánovas has insisted. “Although they have the loads, we set the price, we are the ones who have the trucks and assume all the risks.”
To put an end to the strike, the platform has requested that the government meet more of its demands, such as guaranteeing the maximum payment term of 30 days for transportation services retroactively, so that drivers are protected in case a contract is breached.
“Fuel has its importance, but it is the straw that broke the camel’s back for other claims that must be resolved,” he added.
After learning of the government’s offer, several employers, including Fenadismer have decided to join the strike, and official sources have reported that two other CNTC federations, Fetransa and Feintra, are holding talks to decide on what “stance they take.”
Fenadismer alone incorporates around 32,000 transport companies with more than 50,000 vehicles, and these new work stoppages are likely to have a tremendous impact on the supply chain, which is already suffering major shortages all across Spain.
Image: Social Drive
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