tagged w/ Prime Minster Zapatero
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Nearly half of the gasoline stations in the northern province of Catalonia were out of fuel Tuesday morning, and the regional government sent an emergency convoy of 20 trucks to replenish their tanks.
Three automotive plants - one each operated by Nissan, Mercedes Benz and SEAT - said they were suspending operations because of a lack of spare parts. Vendors warned of shortages in fruit, vegetables and meat at the sprawling wholesale market in Madrid - Mercamadrid - if the strike continued.
Around major cities Tuesday, traffic continued to crawl behind the so-called "snail protests" of slow-moving trucks.
Television news reports showed ships in the Balearic Islands marooned in port for lack of fuel and cargo. In the northern province of Galicia and southern ports of Andalucía, the truckers' strike, coupled with a fishing strike, left docks and fish stalls barren. Wholesale markets were surrounded by protesters. And shoppers were hoarding staples.
So far the administration of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has offered a package of measures to ease the impact of higher fuel prices on small businesses, including lower social security contributions and subsidies of €55 million, or $87 million, to older truckers who choose to abandon the industry. But Somoza said the truckers considered those measures insufficient. They are seeking government regulations guaranteeing a minimum price for their services, above fuel costs.
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Nearly half of the gasoline stations in the northern province of Catalonia were out of... more
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