International

For the second time in a month European truck drivers are taking action against further liberalisation of road freight and the evasion of social rights by means of the registration of ‘box number companies’, amongst other methods. A demonstration by the drivers and their supporters began at the European Parliament before moving on to the European Commission building a short distance away. Hundreds of concerned truckers were there to demonstrate their discontent over social dumping. Addressing the crowd, SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong expressed his support for the action and told the drivers that he had, along with other MEPs, sent an urgent letter to the Commission. ‘Trade unions and Euro-MPs stand here shoulder-to-shoulder with the truck drivers to demand equal pay for equal work. In road freight transport quite scandalous things are taking place, from underpayment to unfair competition via law-dodging box number firms. The Commission must in our view immediately sit down with the truck drivers and unions and talk.’

Newly-elected SP Member of Parliament Arnold Merkies, formerly an advisor to the party’s parliamentary team, gave his maiden speech to Parliament on Wednesday, during the debate on next year’s budget. Insisting that there is ‘a social way out of the crisis,’ Merkies said that ‘the bill should not be sent to the sick, the poor and the old’ and drew attention to the existence of sustainable alternatives for tackling the crisis. ‘Because something that you demolish isn’t quickly brought back again.’