Government says deal reached to suspend damaging trucker strike

The Brazilian government said late last night that a deal had been reached with truckers to suspend the strike (already 4 days) that caused fuel shortages, cut into food deliveries, backed up exports and threatened airline flights.

Mr. Eliseu Padilha, chief of staff for President Temer, told reporters in Brasilia that several unions that represent truckers agreed to suspend the strike for 15 days to give all parties time to negotiate a solution to rising fuel prices that drivers say has cut deeply into their earnings. The deal came after a full day of negotiations with several of the largest transportation unions. Mr. Bueno, president of Truckers National Confederation of Autonomous Transporters, told to reporters that he hoped the agreement would lead to drivers quickly dismantling roadblocks on highways and streets.

However, it was not immediately clear how many of the thousands of truckers, who by the nature of their jobs operate with a good bit of independence, would heed calls to stop the strike. Brazil’s economy runs largely on road transport and the strike to protest rising diesel prices was beginning to have serious consequences, with highway police reporting blocked roads in nearly all of Brazil’s states. According to early news today, the drivers in in the state of Parana claimed that were not consulted and therefore will continue idle maintaining the road blockage until further notice. They did not informed clearly whether will accept the agreement met last night or not. At this hour, we do not have much info, but will follow up progress along the day.