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Truckers’ strike gains support of major trade union centers

A truckers' strike in May 2018 caused massive disruption and supply shortages in major cities. Photo: Nelson Antoine/Shutterstock
A truckers’ strike in May 2018 caused massive disruption and supply shortages in major cities. Photo: Nelson Antoine/Shutterstock

A host of Brazil’s biggest trade union centers issued a manifesto on Thursday, showing their support for the proposed truckers’ strike, scheduled to take place on Monday.

The group explains that the truck drivers’ demands are in the interests of all workers. Drivers have threatened to switch off their engines at the beginning of next week in protest against rising diesel prices.

The trade union centers point out that the rise in fuel prices has a significant effect on everyday citizens as well, particularly when it comes to automobile fuel and domestic cooking gas cylinders, used in the vast majority of Brazilian households.

Infrastructure Minister Tarcísio Freitas hopes to meet with leaders of major truck drivers’ unions today in an attempt to dissuade them from taking strike action. However, when speaking to the media, he has played down the chances of any large-scale truckers’ strike.