Carriers continue with the strike and warn of possible shortages

The Canary Islands transport employers' association announced this Monday that the indefinite strike of freight transport, whose follow-up they have estimated at 90%, will continue and has warned of the possibility of shortages.

This was stated in statements to the media by the president of the Association of Transport Businessmen (Asentra), Roberto Jerez, at the end of the meeting he held with the president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Minister of Public Works and Transport of the Government of the Canary Islands, Sebastián Franquis.

Although he said he was aware that his demands, which include a "adaptation to the Canarian reality" of the tachograph, the device that measures the working day and the rest of the drivers, cannot be resolved "in the short term", they will maintain the strike until "the relevant negotiations are over".

Regarding the possibility of shortages of some products, Jerez pointed out that with 90% of the freight transport truck fleet stopped and, therefore, most of those operating in the main ports, it is "obvious" that, since the maritime route is the main entry point for products, "there may be a significant shortage".

"I couldn't venture to say when the shortage will occur or how, because I don't know the warehouse of each logistics platform or its capacity or how long they can last without us replenishing those goods, but we are talking about all kinds of products," said Roberto Jerez.

When asked about this issue, Minister Sebastián Franquis was blunt and said that in no case will the Government be responsible for a situation of this type.

"We have not called any strike. Regarding the shortage, you will have to ask whoever called the strike. The answers about the possibility of shortages do not correspond to the Autonomous Government," insisted Franquis, who advocated in any case to continue with "the path of dialogue" as the "best formula" to reach an agreement.

If the shortage occurs, he stressed, "others will be responsible for a situation of that nature. I don't get involved in what others decide."

In addition, Franquis pointed out that the tachograph debate "is not new".

"Has this debate arisen in the last month? How long have we been talking about the tachograph, about whether it adapts...? It is something that cannot be solved overnight because it has to do with European and state legislation," added the regional minister.

In Franquis' opinion, any solution will involve bringing positions closer between employers and unions, which are currently very far apart, and he recalled that regarding the possibility of eliminating the tachograph in Ibiza and Menorca, the Ministry of Transport already said that it was not possible.

In this sense, the minister said that they will also seek avenues of dialogue with the Government of the Balearic Islands to study the issue and propose joint solutions due to the similarity of the territory.

Regarding the unions' criticism of the employers' aspirations to eliminate or soften the use of the tachograph, which they would consider giving employers "free rein" to infringe labor rights, Jerez stated that "at no time" do transport employers intend to exploit any worker.

"I encourage any worker who is truly exploited by a transport company to report their labor situation to the Labor Inspectorate. We cannot imagine that a company can subject or coerce an employee to work more hours. We are not in favor of that, at no time is it intended to harm the worker," said the president of Asentra.

Finally, Jerez responded to the accusations of the unions, who claimed that the employers had blocked the collective agreements for freight transport and discretionary passenger transport since 2007 and 2011 respectively, without updating the salary tables since that date.

"I can show the contract of any professional driver and prove that it is well above the agreement," he concluded.