Spanish truckers call for another indefinite strike

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - The Spanish truckers' association that severely disrupted supply chains during a strike last spring announced on Monday that it will begin another indefinite strike.

The Defense of the Transport Sector Platform, which includes mainly self-employed truckers and small businesses, said the strike will begin on Sunday midnight.

Although the Spanish government has passed a series of measures and aid aimed at truckers, the association says those laws have not helped.

"It's all smoke and mirrors. A new law doesn't mean anything if it isn't controlled," said the association's president, Manuel Hernandez, in a press conference.

For example, he said that despite a law prohibiting truckers to work for losses, it is still a common practice.

Over the weekend, 86% of the platform's members voted in favor of a fresh strike.

"The government should react quickly and face what's coming," Hernandez added.

Earlier in the day, before the strike was announced, Spain's transportation minister said working conditions for truck drivers have "improved substantially" and that the current situation is much different than when the first strike was called seven months ago.

"It doesn't make any sense to go on strike now," said Raquel Sanchez.

In mid-March, the platform went on strike as fuel prices spiked dramatically due to the war in Ukraine.

Just two weeks later, the Spanish government announced a €0.20 per liter ($0.75 per gallon) discount on fuel for all drivers in Spain, which remains in force.

During the first strike, however, it took the Spanish government a long time to sit down with the platform, which politicians said was controlled by the far-right and not a legitimate union.

After 20 days of the strike wreaking havoc on deliveries of all kinds, negotiations eventually prospered.

But the economic damage was severe, as not only did the truckers refuse to work, but they also blocked key transportation routes.

Consequently, major food companies like Nestle and Danone and some factories had to pause production due to a lack of supplies.

In reaction to the announcement of a new strike, 10 associations representing the distribution, food and hospitality sectors released a joint statement asking the government to guarantee supply and the safety of truckers who continue to work.

The associations also pointed out that the entire food chain is already severely stressed due to "the complex international" situation and said it is "a delicate moment" for thousands of small businesses.

The statement warned that the strike could "cause serious damage to consumers" if prolonged.