Markets and roads returned to normal on the first day, but the platform warns of a “very dark Christmas if cost law is broken”
After a week of warnings, meetings between the strike organizers and the Ministry of Transport, along with the rejection of the rest of the transport sector, the critical truck drivers stopped their vehicles from midnight Sunday to Monday. They did it to protest against the violation of the cost law, which prohibits working at a loss and was passed in the summer after the serious transport protests of last March.
On the other hand, it does not seem that the mobilization will have the same effects this time. In March, the strike was also declared by the Transport Defense Platform, but several associations joined them during the days. This caused the collapse of some logistics centers and highways, which led to the government giving direct support to the sector and the subsidy of 20 cents per liter of fuel later extended to other drivers.
Normality was the general trend on the roads of the Region of Murcia this Monday. The transport companies carried out their activities regularly and without incident, according to the assessment of the government deputy, José Vélez. He clarified that “it is not a legal strike,” though he acknowledged that “the conveners have the right to conduct their strikes in accordance with the rules and laws.” The Regional Federation of Organizations and Transport Companies of Murcia (Froet), for its part, reiterated its rejection of the mobilization. “This is not a time for strikes, but to continue negotiating with the government to continue making progress to maintain the sustainability of companies in the sector,” said the employer’s deputy secretary, Eva Melenchón.
Despite the apparent calm, the spirits are agitated among the carriers. So much so that more than 1,500 professionals from the region supported the strike, and some of them joined the demonstration in Madrid, which according to the platform’s regional spokesman, Ester Sampietro, achieved great “participation success”.
Yesterday, the supply of the main logistics centers, markets and highways was ‘absolutely normal’. At least that was noted by Fenadismer (National Federation of Transport Associations of Spain), who was not aware of “any incident”. Astic (International Road Transport Association) also reported normality in the operation of its companies on roads, ports, logistics centers and rest areas.
Similarly, from Mercamadrid, they ensured that imports of goods took place from the early hours like any other day, albeit with the presence of national police officers at the door. And it is that the Ministry of Interior’s apparatus is much better planned this time, given the serious incidents that occurred during the March protests. Domestic sources assured that the situation was “normal”, with the exception of a tire fire in Algeciras and fire damage to four trucks in Villaescusa (Cantabria), in addition to some punctures in Illescas (Toledo), actions under investigation.
But Manuel Hernández, president of the Platform for the Defense of Transport, warned that stronger actions are not ruled out if their demands are not met; slow-moving trucks or highway closures, for example. “We will not be fooled,” he warned the media during the demonstration in the center of Madrid. And while he stated he doesn’t want this to become an “impulse” in the government, he insisted that “a very dark Christmas is coming if the law is not followed”. In any case, their march was less massive than expected, with some 3,000 demonstrators – by police calculations – stopping in front of the Transport Ministry and blocking traffic on Paseo de la Castellana.
According to Minister Raquel Sánchez, this strike is “unjustified” today. Speaking at a conference organized by Invertia, he wanted to draw attention to the “major efforts” made over the past year to change carrier conditions and the response to many of their requests.
Nevertheless, he indicates that they are willing to continue the dialogue. However, he stressed that the valid representatives are those of the National Road Transport Committee (CNTC), an organization that rejects the protests and in which critical truck drivers feel unrepresented. During her speech, the minister referred to tolls, although pointing out that they are still on the government’s “road map”, she believes they cannot implement them “without a consensus that currently does not exist”.
The government has started the procedures to launch a public consultation and find out the interests of the bus transport companies to study a liberalization in the sector and the entry of competition in some national bus lines as announced by the Secretary of State for Transport , Isabel Pardo de Vera, in an act organized by the CNMC.
The regulator has recommended that the government take a series of measures, including the liberalization of inter-urban routes with a journey length of more than 100 km. And Pardo de Vera confirmed it.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
