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Fast sentences for drivers on strike

30 September 2010 / 12:09:35  GRReporter
3361 reads

Fast sentencing, license revoking and even imprisonment up to three years is awaiting the drivers of public trucks and tanks who continue the strike against the liberalization of the transport market and do not go to work. The new measures are already in force after the quick vote of the new law the aim of which is to make disobedient drivers to go back to work and fulfill their obligations to the contracting companies.

The government was forced to introduce civil mobilization of striking drivers during this summer to make the drivers return to work. The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dimitris Repas promised that the consequences of civil mobilization will be withdrawn (imprisonment for disobedience) if the drives voluntarily return to work. The problem with the carriers, however, came back a month later when the law on the release of the restrictions in transport services was finally voted. The drivers were refusing to accept the new changes for almost three weeks and they were gradually blocking roads in the country. They were not allowing private vehicles to move and seriously hindered the provision of goods and services to the outskirts of the country and the exports.

The police began to check the blockade immediately after the new law was adopted. A 35-year-old truck driver was arrested together with two colleagues of his (at the age of 57 and 41). The drivers blocked the Patron-Pyrgos highway near Kuretsi not allowing tanks and commercial vehicles to pass. They permitted only private cars and trucks with medicines to move. According to the Katemerini Newspaper the arrested were released hours later, but there is an investigation against them. The farmers from the region of Kato Ahia went on strike on the same highway on Wednesday night to protest against the drivers as their products waited and rot in the warehouses because of the drivers.

Goods in the last two weeks were supplied by privately rented cars that were convoyed in most of the cases by police escorts in order to reach the final consumer. According to information provided by the police, 1538 transport courses were convoyed in the last days to ensure the security of the hired drivers, the vehicles and the goods in them. However, market supply is difficult. According to the data of the National Agency for Export, 200 commercial offices and export companies have seized their activity and over 40 manufacturing companies, mainly in the food industry, are not able to fulfill their contracts with foreign partners that are waiting for their deliveries in this period.

Tags: EconomyMarketsCompaniesStrikesDriversGreece
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