Peruvian carriers call an indefinite strike starting Monday

The president of the National Union of Carriers communicates progress in the negotiations: "The offer has been improved"

The transport associations of Peru have announced an indefinite strike as of Monday, June 27, while they continue with the contacts to try to reach an agreement with the Government.

One of the spokesmen for the carriers, the director of the National Land Transport Council, Martín Ojeda, has indicated in statements to the RPP radio station that they hope to touch on "structural issues" in the dialogue with the Government so that this protest is suspended.

Specifically, Ojeda has criticized the President of the Council of Ministers, Aníbal Torres, and the Minister of Transport, Juan Barranzuela, for minimizing the union's demands and ensuring that some sectors were not going to support the strike.

"It does not surprise us because it is an Executive that has become accustomed to joining with illegal transport against the principles of society's interests. This minister (Barranzuela) the first thing he did when he took office was to meet with illegal transport, so he does not we are surprised that he does not know who the actors of this economic activity are", he pointed out.

For Ojeda, the Government gives answers "that, instead of alleviating the situation, unnerve it." Thus, he has explained that demands focus on the rise in fuel and the increase in the price of tolls, among others.

The spokesman for the carriers has assured that there will be no roadblocks that could harm the population. "Hopefully there are no people infiltrated, we agree on turning off the engines, in the case of the truck drivers, they will be evaluating it, but a slap on the wrist because after the meetings with the Minister of Transportation, those statements show a false arrogance and they don't know where they stand," he added.

For its part, the Government assures that the strike "will only be in some sectors" and has stressed that the negotiation "continues" in the words of the President of the Council of Ministers, Aníbal Torres.

The president of the National Union of Carriers, Javier Marchese, has reported this Saturday that the Executive has improved the offer in response to their demands, for which the dialogue with the Government is maintained to reach an agreement before the called strike.

"We are going to see what our bases tell us, what the Council of Ministers says. If we reach an agreement in good time (the national strike would be called off); otherwise, we will continue with the strike," Marchese explained after the meeting of the leaders with the representatives of the guilds.

These representatives have explained that they have to consult with the bases for the negotiation. "As long as there is no green light from our bases on what they are telling us, we will not reach a good port," the Peruvian newspaper 'El Comercio' reported.