Hundreds of people waving flags from different autonomous communities gathered this morning on a tour that began at the Atocha Roundabout, in Madrid, and is scheduled to end at the Ministry of Transport.

EL MUNDO has spoken with some of the attendees who have gathered to demand that the minister comply with the law that she approved a few months ago.

Víctor Linares, 29 years old: "They continue to abuse us"

At one point in the demonstration, Víctor Linares explains what has led them to take to the streets again, after the resounding call that paralyzed the country in March: "We have two demands: on the one hand, that we be allowed

to retire at 60 ,

because after that age we are not in a position to take a truck".

"Besides," he continues, "if we have an accident, it's not considered an occupational accident, so we don't have compensation like other jobs.

"The downloads used to force us to do them, despite the fact that it was prohibited. The approved law established some costs and if they were not complied with, we reported them. But shortly after, the minister sent a statement to the security forces so that they did not carry out those inspections

" "They continue to abuse us."

"The only difference with March is that now we have a law, but it is not enforced," warns this self-employed truck driver.

Víctor Linares, at a moment of the march.MARÍA ALBALAT

"Until now I have only found it difficult to do my job, if this does not change in a year,

I will declare bankruptcy and hand over my truck

. All costs have risen, not just fuel. It is unfeasible to dedicate oneself to transport, this every day It's getting worse. I've already worked for a big transport company and I wouldn't go back, they steal your time and manage your time, both your rest and your salary.

Manuel Gómez, 55 years old: "The Government has scored a goal for us"

At another point in the march, before arriving at the Ministry of Transport, Manuel Gómez, 55, is deceived: "We are here because

the Government has scored a goal against

us, it has totally deceived us. It turns out that they are carrying out a Royal Decree which is not bad, but then they do not comply with it, even a transport sub-delegate gives an order to the authorities so that they do not ask us for a document called a freight bill, a control document that reflects what they pay us for that trip whenever does not exceed 150 euros. They are not interested because

the shippers have jumped on them,

the big shippers, those who pay us," he warns.

Their argument is that they are alone in this conflict: "If you now call the police to inspect, they will not come, they make a law to fool us. Whoever does not follow the law is a criminal, and the first is the Government".

Gómez is not

exactly new to this: “I have been in the sector for 34 years and we have had 30 of them very badly, but this last season has been one of the worst

. We can't even change the transport, with these prices, there is no margin. We get half of what the shippers receive (intermediaries between the factory and the carrier). What they want is for the self-employed to disappear and work for them, on top of that they have you enslaved. There is a company, Molinero, that brings drivers from Argentina, where transportation is worse, to put them on a truck and exploit them," he warns.

Manuel Hernández: "They will be responsible"

From the organization of the strike and the demonstration on Tuesday they were satisfied with the call in Madrid, although it is true that the impact has been reduced: "Indeed the objective has been achieved (in terms of concentration). I am totally satisfied with the presence of the people," said Manuel Hernández, leader of the National Transport Platform, convener of the protests.

"The feeling is one of rage and deception, it is incomprehensible to have a law and that it is not enforced. We hope that the responsibility of politicians prevails and that this does not drag on over time. If they do not comply, we will continue in the streets and

we will see that shortage that they fear so much,

but they are responsible for whether or not it happens," he warned.

Conforms to The Trust Project criteria

Know more

  • THE WORLD

  • strikes

  • Transportation and Tourism