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ARCHIVED - Transport strikes once again loom large in Spain
Truck drivers continue to threaten work stoppages this summer in Spain if costs aren’t curtailed by the government
Following a meeting marked by hostility and barely veiled threats between the Ministry of Transport and the Platform for the Defence of the Transport of Goods on Thursday June 16, self-employed truckers in Spain are still fully prepared to go on strike once again this summer if the government doesn’t guarantee improvements to their working conditions.
Truck drivers across the country began industrial action in March, almost 20 days of work stoppages that literally paralysed distribution throughout Spain and even resulted in an accidental shooting in Madrid.
Since the strike was called off at the beginning of April the carriers argue that, despite repeated promises from the government their situation has actually worsened, since fuel costs continue to climb even with the national bonus of 20-cents per litre, which has been extended until October.
In fact, for the second week running petrol prices have beaten all records, selling at an average price of 1.917 euros per litre last week, and many filling stations believe this will exceed three euros per litre in the summer months.
The truck drivers’ demands are simple: they want assurances that they won’t be forced to work for less money than their journeys are costing them, with the majority of self-employed carriers arguing that they aren’t even breaking even at the moment.
For its part, the Ministry of Transport has promised that a new decree law to this effect is in the pipeline and should be ready by the end of July. In the meantime, she has asked the Platform not to be hasty and call for strike action until then.
The truckers themselves are sceptical.
The president of the Platform, Manuel Hernández, voiced their concerns after Thursday’s meeting: “The Ministry has told us that they are working on the law that they promised us, but we have no guarantees that by the 30th that law will be in place.”
Image: Archive
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