In Milan the trade unions of the category met with Minister Salvini, who announced: "Immediate disbursement of allocated funds, then additional resources". Roadblocks continue for road hauliers in the South. In Ischia and Procida, fuel and food supplies are starting to run out
The protests of hauliers in the South continue, and this morning they received answers from the category's meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, who will meet some local representatives and Cobas in the afternoon. The head of the ministry promises: "Immediate disbursement of allocated funds, then additional resources." Deputy Minister Rixi announces: "480 million available for the sector from today". And he hopes that the blockades will end "this afternoon. Because it is clear that a situation like this cannot continue, therefore the requests are right, but the blockades cannot be allowed indefinitely". During the night, truck drivers set up a garrison at the Nola toll booth, in the province of Naples, on the A30, Caserta-Salerno. There are also indefinite road blocks at the Avellino Est motorway toll booth and traffic is also paralyzed near the Mercato San Severino barrier (Salerno), towards Caserta.
In the morning table with the hauliers in the Prefecture in Milan
Mid-morning there was a table with the hauliers in the Prefecture in Milan 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. At the end, Deputy Transport Minister Edoardo Rixi declared: "We have released around one billion euros: 480 million for all the applications that arrived up to August and then we will put new resources in September-October, but the tax credit will obviously be in 2027". The deputy minister then added: "From today we will start disbursing the contributions on the 430, which have now become approximately 480 million, to eliminate all the applications received up to August 30th, which is the last window that was opened". With the hauliers "we have a series of deadline meetings, we will see each other again on the 27th. The government has undertaken to include the new resources in a new decree and then there is the issue that we are trying to develop a proposal to match the Spanish model, which sees a substantial adjustment of prices with the increase in diesel also on the issue of road haulage tariffs", concluded Rixi. Before the meeting, Minister Salvini had spoken to Rtl 102.5: "To overcome the bureaucratic obstacles, we have imposed that they will begin to be paid out as early as this week, because many companies cannot wait. Then 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".
The Sicilian Road Transport Committee (Cts), which proclaimed the stoppage of the vehicles which has been ongoing for five days, "does not carry out and will not in any way support road blocks or controls aimed at preventing the transit of those who choose to work" and awaits the outcome of the meeting to decide whether or not to revoke the protest. The CTS "reiterates that its protest action is limited exclusively to the failure to move semi-trailers from ships", we read in a note. "While sharing the emergency linked to the cost of diesel - continues the CTS - the organization has chosen not to join other demonstrations to avoid exploitation and overlapping of different requests. We have nothing against fellow artisans, the so-called masters, nor against other categories of workers such as farmers or fishermen. However, our companies face different structural problems. We want to deal exclusively with our points to ensure maximum clarity and not generate confusion". The detention in the Sicilian ports "is taking place in an absolutely peaceful, civil and strictly within company properties" and "will be revoked as soon as Minister Salvini formally signs the commitments made".
Shortage of goods on shelves in Messina
Meanwhile, protests by Sicilian hauliers continue at the barrier at the Tremestieri and San Gregorio junctions: the drivers have 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 the center of 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.
One hundred vehicles stopped at the entrance to Palermo
Protests are also underway in the capital, in particular at the junction of the motorway that leads to the city: around 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 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", he declared, spreading his arms.
The protests in Puglia
Protests also continue in Puglia: at dawn a procession of dozens of tractors and trucks crossed the streets on the outskirts of Bitonto, in the Bari area, along provincial road 231, arriving in the city where a protest against high fuel prices 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.
Garrisons are underway in the Cosentino area
The demonstrations resumed this morning along the SS 18, in the Tyrrhenian Sea near Cosenza, for the protest of hauliers and farmers against high fuel prices. In Tortora, Santa Maria del Cedro, Acquappesa-Guardia Piemontese, Fuscaldo, civil society, local politics and students are crowding the garrisons, showing solidarity with the demonstrators. In the shops and supermarkets of Cosenza we are starting to notice a progressive shortage of fresh products, with empty shelves in the departments dedicated to fruit, vegetables and in particular for fresh milk, the supply of which is directly affected by the halt in daily deliveries. At the moment, no problems are reported for long-life goods and primary canned foodstuffs, thanks to the warehouse stocks previously accumulated by distributors, which are allowing consumer demand to be regularly met.
Protests and blockades on the A2
The hauliers are also protesting in Vallo di Diano, in the province of Salerno, where protests have been underway since the morning at the Polla, Atena Lucana, Sala Consilina and Padula-Buonabitacolo junctions of the A2 Mediterranean. 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 have been reported and motorists are advised to be cautious.
The ferries to Ischia and Procida are at risk
Meanwhile, the situation of fuel and food supplies on the islands of Ischia and Procida is worsening, where the protest of hauliers is causing growing difficulties and now risks compromising maritime connections as well. In fact, even the fuel needed to power the ferries that connect the two islands to the mainland is starting to run out. The shipping company Caremar sent a note to the Prefecture of Naples and the Campania Region asking for the activation of an emergency plan to guarantee supplies and avoid the detention of ships starting from Thursday morning. In fact, available fuel supplies could run out in the next few hours, resulting in the suspension of maritime connections. However, the supply of fuel for hydrofoils is still regular. This morning the ship destined for the transport of automotive and heating fuels destined for Ischia and Procida did not depart from the port of Pozzuoli because the tank trucks did not leave the deposits in the refineries.
Since yesterday evening in Ischia there have been long queues of motorists in front of petrol stations, with the municipal police forced in some cases to intervene to regulate traffic. The rush to fill up is fueled by the fear of running out of stocks which, according to information gathered, could run out within 48-72 hours.
In Procida, meanwhile, the petrol available in distribution systems is now close to running out. The situation of supermarkets is also critical: in Procida the shelves are now empty, while in Ischia, especially fruit, vegetables, dairy products and other fresh products are starting to run out. The last regular supplies date back to last Friday and the goods destined for the two islands remain stuck in the logistics platforms on the mainland, where the hauliers' presence prevents normal loading and unloading operations.
