A truck with beer drums attacked by pickets. /
It is estimated that the stoppage of transport has already caused losses of 600 million to the primary sector, industry and distribution
The strike that began last Monday in a minority way among carriers is putting the Government on the ropes. Consumers are beginning to notice problems of shortages of fresh products on supermarket shelves due to distribution problems from the largest logistics centers and the stoppage of the dairy industry.
For now, this strike has already caused losses of 600 million to the primary sector, industry and food distribution and endangers more than 100,000 jobs, according to estimates made by large consumers (Agri-food Cooperatives, FIAB, Aecoc, Asedas, ACES and Anged), who recall that these actions are especially damaging sectors equally affected by the current inflationary scenario. Thus, they calculate that distribution companies are assuming daily extra costs of around 130 million euros to be able to transport and redistribute food to points of sale throughout the country and avoid supply problems.
Despite this, the Government remains firm and ensures that it will not meet with the Platform for the Defense of Transport, organizers of this strike that already has 130,000 professionals in the sector and who are making it difficult with their pickets to access strategic distribution points. of food in different parts of Spain. The Minister of Transport, Raquel Sánchez, made it clear on Thursday that she will not negotiate with them and described them as a “group of radicals who act with violence.” She pointed out that it is a minority association that is not part of the National Highway Transport Committee (CNTC) with whom the Executive is holding talks.
Even so, Sánchez acknowledged that this strike threatens to cause “specific incidents” of supply, although he considers that during the day this Friday “the situation has improved.” To avoid problems, the Government has promised to act “forcefully” and has mobilized more than 23,000 agents, one eighth of the total staff of both bodies of the State Security Forces.
The biggest consequence of this stoppage in part of transport has been the indefinite suspension of activity by the dairy industry due to the interruption of supply to produce its products. This is a major problem for many farms that will not be able to send their milk to the factories these days and, as they do not have storage capacity for more than 24 or 48 hours, they will have to throw away thousands of liters of milk, according to UPA (Union of Small Farmers). and ranchers).
Another of the sectors most affected by the strike is that of biofuels, which announced this Friday a stoppage of all the production plants of their companies, according to the National Association of Biodiesel Producers (EWABA). The strike will take place between the weekend and next Tuesday as a result of the carriers’ strike, for which they demand the Government to negotiate to end this “unsustainable” situation and warn of the possible “collapse” of the entire economy. The president of EWABA, Enrique González, assures that they have been forced to make this decision because there are no trucks that carry the chemical products or that carry the biofuel.
fresh food distribution
This Friday the country’s large markets are receiving more products than in previous days, although a lot of merchandise is still missing. This is how they admit it from Mercamadrid, the largest distribution platform for fresh products in Spain, where the National Police is guarding the entrances so that there are no pickets that prevent the arrival of trucks with food. Even so, they assure that fruit, vegetables and fish are what are most in danger of supply as they are perishable products and there is less stock in large surfaces. During the day on Thursday, Mercamadrid received 38% less merchandise than usual and this Friday it is still 32% lower than seven days ago.
So far this week, Mercamadrid has received 40% less merchandise, although they assure that there are no pickets at the entrances that prevent access. On Monday and Tuesday there were protesters, but only at an “informational” level and no incidents were recorded. They explain that the lack of merchandise is being noticed, especially in vegetables and seafood, and they acknowledge that some points in Spain to which these foods are sent from Madrid are having supply problems.
On behalf of the largest association of self-employed, ATA, its president Lorenzo Amor explains to this newspaper that the problem is that the Government “is late.” “We cannot wait for March 29 because the price of fuel must be lowered now,” he assured. In Amor’s opinion, the government’s inaction is “choking companies, freelancers and citizens” and he supported the “legitimate and more than understandable” protests and demonstrations. Even so, from ATA they ask that the freedom of movement of the self-employed who wish to work be ensured.
Europe approves aid
While the Government waits for March 29 to approve its package of measures pending agreement with Brussels next week, several surrounding countries have already applied or at least announced what their plans are to reduce the impact of the escalation of prices.
France, for its part, has announced a discount of 15 cents per liter of gasoline for both individuals and professionals. Portugal has been subsidizing fuel spending for months by reimbursing part of its own tax. On the other hand, Italy launched this Friday a new decree that reduces taxes on gasoline and diesel.
Germany for the moment has only extended aid to the most vulnerable groups but is preparing measures to compensate for the rise in fuel prices. For its part, Belgium has reduced VAT on electricity and gas to 6%, in addition to lowering 17 cents per liter of fuel and 100 euros in aid for the most disadvantaged families. Poland has lowered VAT on fuel to 8% and Ireland lowered the price of gasoline by 20 cents per liter and that of diesel by 15 cents, at least until September.