Truckers' strike disrupts traffic, supply chains in Spain

OVIEDO, Spain

Spanish truckers continued a nationwide strike on Saturday, causing massive supply chain disruptions across the country.

On Monday, a platform representing small trucking businesses and self-employed truckers announced an indefinite strike.

Sky-high diesel prices triggered the action, but other complaints include high taxes and precarious working conditions.

Although a minority of Spain’s truckers are participating, the movement’s effects are beginning to bite.

Supermarkets around the country are reporting shortages of several items, primarily fresh food like fish and fruit. On Friday, supermarket chain Lidl shut down stores in the region of Asturias because of a lack of supply.

Farmers are complaining of not being able to sell products, particularly milk, and are warning about running out of animal feed within days.

Several factories, already hit by high energy prices, have also had to pause production due to shortages of materials. That includes the country’s largest copper factory Cunext Copper and the Volkswagen factory in the northern Navarra region.

Spanish authorities have deployed around 23,000 police officers to control the truckers, who have also been protesting against their colleagues who continue to work.

Violent incidents have been reported and police shot one striker in Madrid.

However, the government refuses to engage with the platform behind the strike.

“We’ll never rule out sitting down with anyone, but we will not be held hostage by blackmail,” Spanish Treasury Minister Maria Jesus Montero said Friday.

“They are playing right into (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s hands,” she added.

The Spanish government calls the action a boycott rather than a strike, saying the movement is illegitimate and encouraged by the far-right.

Government officials are set to meet with recognized trucker representatives on Monday, who the strikers say do not represent their interests.

The strike also disrupted traffic in the city of Oviedo, where the ruling Socialist Party is holding a convention.

At a picket in Oviedo, where more than 100 trucks incessantly honked and blocked traffic around the city, protesters called for better working conditions, as well as a new government.

“The government needs to come up with a new law so everyone knows what work is. Politicians haven’t worked a day in their lives and just live off of taxes,” a protester said through a loudspeaker.