Prices jump due to truck driver’s strike

The truck driver’s strike called by the Platform for the Defence of the Road Goods Transport Sector, has resulted in shortages that have caused prices to jump. The strike now in its second week is beginning to damage the economy and to hurt the most vulnerable as the availability of basic goods falls and the cost of staple goods rises.

With the strike affecting many producing areas, some sectors have had to temporarily suspend activity resulting in shortages of items such as milk. That in turn has pushed the price of these items up.

The increases have affected small stores the most as it has their customers, with Ricardo, a self-employed owner manager of Madrid butcher shop ‘Casa Lucas’ telling Antena 3: “We have had to raise prices, there was no other choice. Otherwise, you sell at a loss. Production costs increase every week.”

The transporters, meanwhile, maintain their pressure with “slow marches” and “meeting in the town squares” waiting to be received by the Government, something that at the moment does not seem to be happening. The lack of discussion between the group and the government has everyone wondering what is being done to bring the ridiculous situation to a satisfactory end.

The Government and the National Committee for Road Transport (CNTC), who are not involved in the strike, are said to be meeting today March 21^st however it is not known what the agenda is or whether it will have any bearing on the organisation that ordered the strike and its members.

Authorities continue to investigate strikers involved in the damage of working vehicles and company property, with 44 now having been arrested and a further 377 under investigation.

The Guardia continue to assist those distribution companies carrying essential goods with more than 1,890 convoys having assisted according to the Ministry of the Interior.

With no end in sight for the eight day old truck driver’s strike that has seen prices jump and shortages in stores across many parts of Spain, one wonders how long the situation can continue especially if as feared some producers – the customers of those on strike – will shut shop for good. Whatever the outcome, the situation on the back of rising energy prices is rising to set back the economy’s recovery.

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