Truckers strike against EU measure

Truckers went on strike yesterday in protest against EU harmonisation laws passed by the Transport Department, inparticular the decision to stop issuing commercial goods transport 'A' licences to trucks and instead issue the licence directly to transport companies.

Four and a half thousand lorries were stationary outside workplaces, including Limassol and Larnaca ports, entrances to Nicosia and Paphos, industrial areas and around Aradippou, Athienou, Xylophagou and Ormidhia. Truckers refrained from loading and unloading cargo from boats and warehouses and the line of parked trucks from Limassol port was 100 metres long.

POVEK union official Kyriacos Moustakas said the strike has been successful across the island and had affected all sectors. "This is the only method we could find to resolve the problem at hand. Drivers need the 'A' licence to work and to live." He went on to say that without the 'A' licence those who want to become commercial goods transport drivers would no longer be required to buy the licence so that drivers leaving the profession would be unable to sell their 'A' licence on retirement for around £2,000. "They also lose the right to own as many heavy goods vehicles as they wish."

The implementation of the new legislation has led to fundamental changes in the heavy goods vehicles sector, sparking protests from drivers. Drivers are also up in arms about the new professional licence examination, which is more detailed and costs £100. They are also demanding that the government implement structural changes in the field of commercial goods transport to help drivers compete in the new European market.

President of the House Communications Committee Nicos Pittikopitis yesterday stressed that all parties involved had discussed the matter and that the drivers had been informed on the EU harmonisation measure to abolish the 'A' licence. He added that if the previous government had asked for economic support from the EU then the current problem would not have arisen.

"We have passed the legislation to be in line with the EU harmonisation, but the difficulties lie in the actual practising of the laws. Drivers must have known this day would come as the matter regarding 'A' licences has been discussed since 1998 with the previous Minister of Communications Leondios Ierodiakonou."

Communications Minister Kikis Kazamias said yesterday he would meet with the drivers' unions to discuss the matter and reach a joint decision. One of the Minister's suggestions is to remove 1,000 trucks from the road, deemed old and unsafe. He expressed his sympathies towards the truckers and agreed that a solution must be reached that satisfied both truckers and the government, but also stressed that the strike would achieve no positive results.

The truck drivers say they will strike indefinitely until the government reaches a satisfactory solution.