Truck drivers will strike on May 21 if diesel rises

Brazilian truck drivers have made their position clear to strike on May 21 if diesel prices rise further. The decision disregards the government’s efforts to offer credit to truckers and other measures to avert the protest. Some leaders from Brazil’s May 2018 trucker’s strike have called the governments concessions a “smoke screen” on social media. The strike is planned exactly a year on from the 2018 strike which severely impacted food and fuel distribution in the country.

Categoria fala em paralisação em 21 de maio.
Vamos acompanhar. #ODiahttps://t.co/BUvZffXWVj

— Jornal O Dia (@jornalodia) 17 April 2019

DatamarNews reported on Tuesday that the Brazilian government had pledged US$129m in bank loans for independent truck drivers. However, the government has not yet adequately addressed the lorry drivers’ complaints regarding soaring diesel prices.

Em coletiva, na manhã desta terça-feira, o Ministro-Chefe da Casa Civil, @onyxlorenzoni, anuncia linha de crédito, via BNDES, que garante R$500 milhões para os caminhoneiros, sendo que o limite de financiamento por motorista é de R$ 30 mil. pic.twitter.com/rBjXo1LFAN

— Ministério da Infraestrutura (@MInfraestrutura) 16 April 2019

The government guaranteed a line of credit worth R$30,000 per driver, via Brazil’s National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES). The loan exclusively applies to independent truck drivers with two trucks per CPF.

“Já havíamos sinalizado isso para os caminhoneiros autônomos, restrito àqueles que têm dois caminhões por CPF”, afirmou o ministro @OnyxLorenzoni.

— Ministério da Infraestrutura (@MInfraestrutura) 16 April 2019

Petrobras conceded a 9% drop in share price last week after Bolsonaro’s government called off a sharp diesel price increase, leading investors into fears of political influence at the firm.  Brazil’s economy heavily relies on road freight for moving agriculture cargo to ports. Bolsonaro has been sensitive to the needs of the truckers since the days of his election campaign, however, with mounting criticism from all sides the fate of Petrobras and the truckers are uncertain.

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