Polish truckers block roads to Poland. They went on strike on Monday to protest against “unfair competition” from Ukrainian drivers who have been able to work more easily in Poland since the start of the Russian invasion.
1 min
With our correspondent in Warsaw, Martin Chabal
The Polish truck drivers got out of their trucks, with their yellow vests on their shoulders, and blocked the Ukrainian vehicles crossing the border. For these carriers, it is since the rules were lifted, to help the Ukrainian economy after the Russian invasion, that Poles’ incomes have started to decline.
The ten companies blocking the border are asking the European Union to reestablish the rules and the permit system for crossing into Poland. According to Polish drivers, they cannot compete against Ukrainian drivers. They are paid less and truck maintenance is also less expensive on the other side of the border.
This is a new point of tension between Poland and Ukraine, after that of Ukrainian cereals. Farmers had already blocked roads to Ukraine because imported grain lowered prices for Poles.
It’s the same with carriers. But this time, Warsaw claims to have no leverage, because it is the European Union which manages the market rules. For its part, kyiv calls for calm and hopes that the strikes will not last.