The strike of self-employed truck drivers in protest against the rise in fuel prices began with a minority platform, with serious suspicions that their motivations went beyond economics, and while the representative associations of the sector remained seated at the table with the Government, negotiating palliative measures in the face of rising road transport costs. The minority status of the convening platform, the scant follow-up and the reduced impact of the strike made relativize the significance of the protest. But since its inception 10 days ago, the conflict has become more complicated without it appearing that the government reacted at the same speed with which it grew in size and implications. First, the impact on the distribution of goods wholesale trade began to be more sensitive due to the boycott of communication hubs and the activity of those who did not follow the strike than due to an increase in follow-up, in such a way that The Executive’s response included public order provisions, while he was modifying the proposals that he successively put forward to the sector in terms of tax reduction or finally direct aid, estimated at 500 million euros. But, meanwhile, the strike has been adding participants (although it has moderated its actions) and threatens to imminently paralyze, and in a chain, the activity of numerous industries, the availability of essential supplies to maintain agricultural and livestock activity and the production and distribution of essential goods. Meanwhile, some sectors –such as fishing, livestock or some sectors of the agri-food industry– suffer an even more devastating double impact: the direct cost of energy or the alteration of the supply of raw materials due to the war in Ukraine and the derivative of not being able to distribute their products.
The measures with the greatest depth and impact (not to mention a more far-reaching plan in the face of the increase in energy prices and its impact on prices and even on the very viability of many economic activities) can hardly become effective before the European Summit this week and the Council of Ministers that must follow it. Perhaps Spain, as the Minister of Transport Raquel Sánchez alleges, “is not going to be later than other countries.” But it is possible that the speed with which the effects of the protest are having severely disruptive consequences yes go ahead of the ability to react and take immediate measures that has been shown. Apart from initiatives of a very partial scope, such as the increase in the working day of salaried carriers (it is not a strike, but a stoppage that does not affect them unless their companies decide to stop their activity), it is not enough to trust that the situation will normalize from the weekend once the carriers know “in detail” the measures during the meeting with the National Committee for Road Transport (CTNC) scheduled for next Friday, when numerous companies warn of the need to redirect the situation in a matter of days, if not hours.
As the consumer goods sector has proclaimed, we are already facing a “state problem” before which an economic sector must be prevented from taking the whole of the Spanish economy hostage (guaranteeing safe corridors for the distribution of essential goods and preventing any coercive and violent action), but also offering solutions immediately and without delay.