Freight companies and truckers to negotiate about highway blockades
The government will begin talks with representatives of truckers and freight companies today (Feb. 25) toward negotiated solutions for disruptions caused by protests that are blocking highways in nine Brazilian states.
They are going to discuss adjusting service rates for freight truckers, one of the central demands of independent truckers who are staging the demonstrations, and extended financing periods for purchasing trucks.
Miguel Rossetto, Chief Administrative Aide to the Presidency in charge of the negotiations, said reducing diesel prices as demanded by the protesters is not on the agenda.
According to Rossetto, the government wants to encourage direct negotiations between the parties in order to answer the truckers' demands, prevent road blockades, and ensure free transit of shipments so that the population can receive its supplies.
Earlier today, the truckers once again closed off two lanes at the 23 km marker on Via Anchieta, near São Bernardo do Campo, in the portion that leads to the Port of Santos, one of the busiest in the country. According to Ecovias, the toll company that manages the Anchieta-Imigrantes highway system, the traffic was restored around 7:35 am through police intervention, without clashes. Yesterday (24), access to the harbor was blocked twice – at 2:10 pm and 1am.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Freight companies and truckers to negotiate about highway blockades
