SPAIN:TENS OF thousands of truck drivers caused chaos on Spanish roads yesterday as they began an indefinite strike in protest at the dramatic increase in fuel prices.
An estimated 90,000 drivers belonging to the independent truckers' associations began their protest at midnight on Sunday. They disrupted border crossings between Spain and France at La Jonquera in Catalonia and Irun and Biriatou in the Basque Country.
Thousands of others blocked toll gates on motorways, caused tailbacks and jams of up to 40km on roads around major cities and are threatening to paralyse traffic in city centres.
The drivers complain that diesel prices have risen from 95 cent a litre in May 2007 to €1.30 today.
Jean Claude Ferran, head of one of the truckers' organisations, told a Spanish radio station that many of its members were going bankrupt. "We just can't afford the diesel any more. It is as simple as that." Pickets surrounded the main wholesale food markets of Madrid and Barcelona to prevent non-strikers delivering meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. They were mainly peaceful pickets, although police reported some violence when drivers had their windscreens smashed, tyres punctured and headlights destroyed.
The fears that filling stations would run out of petrol caused long queues at the weekend as car owners filled up before the strike, and people also stocked up with food in case supermarkets ran out.
The Spanish government is meeting the drivers' representatives although they warn that there is little they can do to reduce costs if oil prices continue to rise.
They cannot reduce VAT on fuel which is set at a minimum of 15 per cent under EU regulations. They have offered a package of solutions, including incentives to encourage older drivers to take early retirement.
The hauliers' association is demanding a law to set a minimum price for transport of goods with a regular price revision according to fuel costs.
This is just the latest protest by workers affected by increased fuel costs. Fishermen from several European countries began their own protests last week when they converged on Brussels. Many of them are remaining in port, saying it is not economically viable to go out to sea.