Truckers block access to Barcelona port on ninth day of protests
Food maker Danone warns of production halt if truck drivers strike continues
Truckers have blocked access to the Port of Barcelona as part of a strike on Tuesday morning, protesting against high fuel prices. Truck drivers have been demonstrating for nine days straight, causing some distribution headaches for companies and manufacturers.
Protesters parked at the entrance of the port, preventing truck drivers working from entering the infrastructure. Port authorities had been in touch with law enforcement agents to "guarantee that work can be done as well as ensuring the supply chain," Port de Barcelona officials said.
Truckers left after the first hours of the protests, allowing others working to enter the port terminals.
On Monday afternoon, the Spanish government announced a €500 million subsidy for truck drivers to buy fuel. However, strike organizers, such as Platform in Defense of the Transport Sector, consider the proposal insufficient.
After the announcement, other truck driver organizations joined the strike due to the "lack of specifics" offered by the executive.
On Monday morning, hundreds began a slow drive from the industrial area of Barcelona known as Zona Franca towards the two ring roads that encircle the Catalan capital. Vehicles turned around in both directions, occupying only one lane.
Danone, threatening consequences
Yogurt makers Danone, based in Paris but founded in Barcelona, has warned that they could halt production "imminently" across Spain because of the strike.
If a solution is not reached soon, the company alerted that they would be forced to stop production temporarily at their four dairy factories in the country, one of them located in Parets del Vallès, near Barcelona.
The truck driver's strike could also cease production at Danone’s three water plants in Spain. The company hopes that an agreement is reached "in the minimum time possible" in order to "restart production activity as soon as possible," a press release reads.
Meat and cereal industries worried
The ongoing truckers strike is causing some dysfunctions also to the meat and cereal industries. "It is a worrying situation added to the one generated by the Ukrainian war," Josep Collado, secretary-general at the Catalan meat industry association (FECIC).
Collado warned that the strike could cause a problem in meat exports, more than not having enough products in supermarkets.
On a similar note, cereal businesses have alerted their customers. "The truck drivers strike is affecting cereals and soya flour from leaving Barcelona and Tarragona's ports. There could be a supply problem," Agro Fundamenta CEO Paco Yglesias, said.