the first day of unemployment of heavy cargo carriers was partially complied with, without incidents of violence and with reduced road blockades nationwide. In Lima the products arrived normally. However, the leaders of the union confirmed that the forceful measure continues today, while the Government of Pedro Castillo is trapped in the dialogue.
“The strike remains indefinite because officially they haven’t given us anything. They haven’t told us when the next meeting will be,” Javier Marchese, president of the National Union of Heavy Cargo Carriers (UNT), told Peru21. The union leader warned that the reception of the strike will be 90% from today.
For its part, the Executive yesterday declared a state of emergency in the National Road Network for 30 days and restricted constitutional rights, such as free transit on highways, freedom of assembly, and personal freedom and security.
REGIONS
The stoppage of carriers in the regions was partially welcomed. However, the blockade of three roads located in Tarapoto (San Martín), Ciudad de Dios (Cajamarca) and Abancay (Apurímac) were reported. A fourth road had restricted access in La Joya (Arequipa).
In Cusco, the companies that offer train transportation to Machu Picchu suspended their services as well as the route that goes to the city of Puno.
In Junín, the representative of the UNT, Walter Solano, reported that 60% of heavy cargo carriers did not circulate on the central highway.
In Huánuco, the leader of one of the smaller vehicle companies, Teresa Castro, said that there was a lack of coordination from the national union. However, on the Central Highway there was no circulation of freight transport.
In Tacna, the general secretary of the Public Transport Drivers Union, Luis Conde, assured that 100% of its members accepted the strike and that they are even considering raising the price of tickets.
In Moquegua there was no stoppage of local transport units and they functioned calmly. The same situation occurred in Puno, where the call had no repercussions.
LOOK: Public service carriers in Lima and Callao will abide by the strike this July 4
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Carlos Posada, institutional director of the Lima Chamber of Commerce, estimated that the strike of heavy cargo carriers yesterday generated losses of up to US$5 million nationwide. However, he warned that if the forceful measures persist, this figure will increase to US$20 million a day in imports and exports, as well as businesses related to these items.
“So far basically the loss is occurring in the formal interprovincial passenger transport that has not operated today (yesterday). Also on the tourism side that has been affected by the closure of the train to Machu Picchu and the tours. In the case of international cargo transport, the impact has not been so great, at least today, ”he pointed out.
Likewise, the increase in food prices in the wholesale markets is expected, which would later be transferred to the retailer and the final consumer. Posada warned that after the 5 days of stoppage, increases of 20% or up to 30% in perishable products will be perceived.
The Institute for Research and Development of Foreign Trade (Idexcam) also estimated that the loss for a day of stoppage of freight transport by road is around 30 million soles and the union in protest contributes around 22% of GDP of the Transport, storage, mail and courier sector.
BROKERS WILL OPERATE
The operators of the complementary corridors announced that today the normal operation of the service is guaranteed, leaving their protest measure without effect. This after the MEF authorized the transfer of items to the ATU for the payment of compensation for March 2022, leaving the commitment to comply with the compensation for the months of April and May in the coming days.
KEEP IN MIND
- The interprovincial transport of passengers did not join the strike after reaching agreements with the PCM.
- The Executive yesterday increased the compensation for diesel in the Fuel Price Stabilization Fund, going from 2.5 to 4.99 soles, in order to mitigate the price increase.
- The UNT expects the government to meet two other demands: mandatory minimum costs and oil compensation fund.
