Independent truckers have called for roadblocks across Brazil starting Monday in a repeat of the two-week strike that delayed grain and meat transport in late February and early March. However it remains unclear how much support the strike movement has.
The National Transport Command is working independently of truckers’ unions but has 27,500 likes on its Facebook page. That doesn’t seem like much but, of course, it doesn’t take that many truckers to block a highway.
The freight industry has taken a big hit with the dramatic slowdown in the Brazilian economy — it’s pegged to contract 3% in 2015 — and surging inflation, currently running just under 10%. The National Transport Command has a bucket list of demands to help ease the impact on truckers, including lower diesel prices, minimum freight rates, fixed salary scales and subsidized credit.
However, there appears also to be a political element to the movement. In its communiqué issued last week, the group said it counts on the support of the principal popular movements seeking the impeachment of embattled Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff.
According to local press reports, the government has talked to the main truckers unions and is hopeful that the stoppage won’t be as effective as the one in late February and early March, which slowed the delivery of soybeans at port to a trickle for around a week.
It is now low season for soybean exports, but Brazil is in the middle of exporting record volumes of corn. Ship lineups indicate over 5 million metric tons of corn are due to be shipped this month.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesC'one Brasso, tell us that everything is hunky dory in Brazil.
Nov 07th, 2015 - 12:05 pm 0The West can kick as much as they want, but the truth is that the Labour government did not succumb in the next twenty years.
Nov 07th, 2015 - 02:24 pm 0The Western press can continue making news without any importance because it will not change the facts.
Our foreign trade is as strong and vibrant as never before.
The values traded in Yuan quadrupled from 2012 until October / 2015. Already the dollar amounts down 20%.
Western importance no longer exists for us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMbGi7EwfIE
@2 brasshole (the onewith shit foir brains)
Nov 07th, 2015 - 07:37 pm 0Speak for yourself, Brazzo with shit for brains. Regardless of your lies and your ridiculous, childish wishes, reality is quite different....and all your bs cannot change it.
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