Truckers’ strike

Following marathon deliberations yesterday, truckers decided to go ahead with a strike starting on Tuesday, placing more pressure on the government to satisfy their demands.

A row over the status of ‘A’ category licenses was due to a “misunderstanding” between the professional group and the Communications and Works Ministry. Truckers received assurances by Communications Minister Harris Thrasou that they did not need to hand in their license when they sell their vehicles or stop working.

But although the license question was out of the way, the main dispute revolves around truckers’ demands for transportation fees; another point of contention is an amended law requiring new certification for the job.

The decision for the indefinite strike was reached late last night, following marathon deliberations between the groups’ representatives at Kophinou. Despite some initial dissent among the ranks, the final decision was unanimous, reports said.

A spokesman for the truckers said that the action, beginning Tuesday, would be “peaceful” and that no roads would be blocked.

Earlier in the week, Thrasou described the threatened strike as “unwarranted,” but added he had received assurances that a salient bill regulating the profession was being fast-tracked in parliament.

A crippling strike in October 2003 saw the drivers using their vehicles to block access to the ports for days, affecting all sectors of the economy. Truckers are complaining that their profession is under threat as a result of EU accession and harmonisation laws.

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