Commuters on their way to work on Monday, 8 October 2018, had a hard time finding transport. Many drivers affiliated with the National Federation of Transport, the New Option (Fenatrano) took the morning off, stranding hundreds of passengers that utilize the 27 February Avenue route and other key transport routes that are controlled by Fenatrano. Commuters that use the Fenatrano route on the Avenida Independencia, Rómulo Betancourt, Simón Bolívar, Gregorio Luperón and Isabela Aguiar were affected.
There had been no previous announcement that there would be a strike on Monday, 8 October. The strike left many commuters who use mass transport without an alternate way to get to their jobs. Many of the striking workers blocked streets, bringing traffic to a halt. Eventually the police arrived and used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
At mid-morning the vice president of Fenatrano, Antonio Brito, entered the Ministry of Industry & Commerce offices and shortly afterward called off the strike. The transporters are calling for a reduction in the price of fuel. Brito said that he would soon meet with mass transport business heads to decide which other ministries should be approached. He did not rule out the possibility of calling for a national strike.
Brito stated: “We will continue the fight until there is a transparent and fair pricing of fuel for our members and for the public in general.” The government has not revealed all the components of the formula for setting the price of fuels.
Meanwhile, Administrative Minister Jose Ramon Peralta urged the transporter workers to negotiate with the government. Peralta reiterated that the government would not allow any transport unit to disrupt public transportation.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Dia
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El Caribe
El Dia
Diario Libre
El Caribe
9 October 2018
