Spain's truckers get gas price cut but some keep striking
ABC News
Spain’s government and the country’s main trucking federations have reached an agreement on financial help for an industry that is getting hurt by high gas prices
MADRID -- Spain’s government and the country’s main trucking federations have reached an agreement on financial help for an industry hurt by high gas prices, but self-employed truckers said Friday they would continue a 12-day strike.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has helped drive gas prices higher in Europe, making it more expensive for truckers to fuel their vehicles.
After 12 hours of negotiations that ended after midnight, Spain's Socialist-led government announced it is discounting 0.20 euros per liter of gas (the equivalent of $.83 per gallon) for truckers as part of a package of measures worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion). A liter of gas for truckers currently costs around 1.80 euros (the equivalent of $7.50 a gallon)
Spanish Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez said the discount would translate into savings of around 700 euros ($771) a month per truck. The government said it would also provide 450 million euros ($495 million) in direct financial aid to road haulage businesses, as well as special credit terms.