The confrontation between Salvini and the hauliers is underway in Milan
The table with the hauliers in the Prefecture of Milan begins with the deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini. The acronyms Fai, Anita, Assotir, Cna Fita, Confartigianato Trasporti, Fedit, Fiap, Trasporto Unito Fiap, Confcooperative, Legacoop Sviluppo e Servizi and Sna-Casartigiani were convened.
Salvini: 'The allocated funds will be disbursed immediately, then the additional resources'
Immediate disbursement of the funds already allocated for road transport, then additional measures. "We are working as hard as we can to give concrete answers today. The 430 million that are already in the budget, therefore already allocated, are available". Thus the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini on Rtl 102.5 specifying: "however, to overcome the bureaucratic obstacles, we have imposed ourselves, let's put it this way with a somewhat strong verb, that they begin to be disbursed as early as this week, because many companies cannot wait.
Then, since we are building a complicated puzzle hour by hour, I don't want to spoil anything, out of respect for whoever I'll meet in two hours. But there will certainly be additional resources. There will also be cash availability for the so-called Marebonus, the result of a European regulation that is out of this world and out of time". "We've been working on it for weeks.
Yesterday I spent a good part of the day also speaking with individual hauliers and with individual associations, not national ones, but of some entities in the South, in Sicily, Campania and Puglia, which have removed blockades on motorways and on some arteries to allow shops, pharmacies and supermarkets to be supplied. So, let's say that the gesture of availability was there", explains Salvini. "What we can say to the many hauliers who follow us live at this moment is that we will release the funds that already exist, the 430 million euros, and, if possible, we will add others. Up to the present day, it is clear that there is a European theme, as I was saying. Alas, there is more than half a billion euros available to companies for the renewal of the fleet, essentially to change the trucks. But even there there are European regulations that limit the possibility of allocating We are therefore in a close discussion with Brussels. There is also further availability for the islands, I am thinking of Sardinia and Sicily, which have the sea because there is no bridge yet, to also lend a hand to intermodality and maritime crossings. There are also some issues related to the license for hauliers, which has an expensive cost, and to age: we would like to voluntarily increase the limit from 68 to 70. years, as in other European countries. Let's say that today I will have two tables: in the morning with the national acronyms and in the afternoon with some local representatives. In the background there is the Council of Ministers on public order, after the events in Milan".
One hundred vehicles stopped at the entrance to Palermo
The blockade of trucks continues in Palermo at the junction of the motorway that leads to the city: about a hundred heavy vehicles are parked in via Oreto and in adjacent streets. Even at the port, the presence of hauliers has led to the blocking of trucks and around thirty vehicles are stopped in via Francesco Crispi. A haulier who was supposed to deliver goods to Sicily after leaving the port was stopped and asked to stop. "I work for a company - he says, spreading his arms - and I had to make deliveries. They told me to stop and I stopped. I don't know when I'll be able to move". Salvatore Bella, coordinator of the CTS, states that the committee does not impose anything and does not stop truck drivers.
The blockade of hauliers continues at Messina toll booths, fewer goods on the shelves
The protest of hauliers continues at the barrier of the Tremestieri and San Gregorio junctions. The drivers said that today they will wait to see what Transport Minister Matteo Salvini says before removing the blocks. If the meeting is successful they will leave, otherwise the protest will continue. Meanwhile in Messina almost all supermarkets have a shortage of goods and waste collection has also stopped in many municipalities in the Ionian area. The door-to-door service for the collection of undifferentiated waste will not be carried out in at least 15 centres: Giardini Naxos, Letojanni, Gaggi, Gallodoro, Castelmola, Mongiuffi Melia, Forza d'Agrò, Sant'Alessio Siculo, S. Teresa di Riva, Savoca, Casalvecchio Siculo, Antillo, Pagliara, Mandanici and Scaletta Zanclea. The protest by hauliers against the increase in fuel prices, carried out at the motorway barriers in Messina and Catania with blockades, demonstrations and mobilisations, also affects some essential public services.
Protest by hauliers in the Salerno area, protests on the A2
Protest by hauliers also in Vallo di Diano (Salerno), where protests have been underway since the morning at the A2 Mediterranean junctions of Polla, Atena Lucana, Sala Consilina and Padula-Buonabitacolo. There are slowdowns in traffic, while cars are allowed to pass. The police forces and Anas personnel are present at the junctions, engaged in traffic protection and control activities. The mobilization also affects other points in the province of Salerno, with protests at the Eboli, Contursi, Campagna and Sicignano degli Alburni motorway junctions. In the afternoon, a patrol is also planned at the Buccino junction of the Sicignano-Potenza motorway junction. Trucks also stopped in Pontecagnano Faiano, at the exit of the ring road, near the roundabout, where severe slowdowns were reported. Motorists are advised to use caution.
Hauliers in Sicily: 'No roadblocks, only ports stopped. We await answers from Salvini'
"All the vehicles of the acronym will remain stationary within their respective company yards awaiting a direct discussion with the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, aimed at signing the commitments necessary for the release of the funds intended for road transport and confirming the availability for dialogue: as soon as Minister Salvini formally signs the commitments made, the closure of the Sicilian ports will be immediately lifted". This was announced by the CTS, Sicilian Transport Committee, reiterating that its protest action is limited exclusively to the failure to move semi-trailers from ships. "We have nothing against fellow artisans, the so-called masters, nor against other categories of workers such as farmers or fishermen", explain the CTS spokespersons. "However, our companies face different structural issues. We want to address only our points to ensure maximum clarity and not create confusion." The Committee also "distances itself from any form of violence or illegality, a line already communicated and reiterated from the first day to the police: it does not carry out and will not support in any way road blocks or garrisons aimed at preventing the transit of those who choose to work".
Procession of tractors and trucks in the Bari area
A procession of dozens of tractors and trucks crossed the streets at dawn on the outskirts of Bitonto, in the Bari area, along provincial road 231, arriving in the city where a protest against high fuel costs is underway. Farmers and hauliers met wearing placards and displaying banners expressing their discontent and explaining the reasons for the protest.
"They increase petrol and bread, they give us the police. This is their democracy" and again "People, don't stand by and watch. The high cost of living and the increase in petrol are also your business".
Words written on cardboard worn as vests. "No weapons, more school, work, healthcare. All-out strike" reads another sign. On the tractors there are banners with the words: "Did you want young farmers? Now listen to us" and again "Stop unfair imports. Let's protect our territory".
The appeal is to the institutions and citizens because "it is time to make our voice heard". The protest, which began at seven in the morning and will cross the city, was organized to "ask for concrete interventions" to deal with "increasingly heavy costs, growing expenses and reduced margins".
The demonstration will continue throughout the day and will end with a demonstration in front of the Municipality. It is a way to demand "listening, responsibility and concrete answers, to protect work, people's dignity and the possibility of looking to the future with greater security", explain the protesters.
