Peruvian transport unions announce indefinite national strike over unfulfilled government promises

Peruvian transport unions have confirmed an indefinite national strike will commence on June 2, citing the government's unfulfilled commitments. Leaders from various transport sectors announced the protest, stating that despite agreements reached in April, promised measures to address rising operational costs and the sector's crisis have not materialized.

Martín Ojeda, spokesperson for Transportes Unidos, confirmed the strike, asserting that the government failed to implement agreed-upon measures during meetings with multiple ministries and regulatory bodies. A key demand is the issuance of emergency decrees to ease the economic burden on the transport industry. "To this day, we have received no response. We are sticking to the strike date because the promised emergency decrees have not been issued," Ojeda stated.

Representatives from heavy cargo, interprovincial, and urban transport sectors participated in the announcement. Giovanni Diez, representing heavy cargo transport, warned of the impact of rising diesel prices, noting that approximately 90% of the 245,000 companies in the sector rely on diesel, which has seen a nearly 70% price increase. He mentioned a request for a temporary subsidy of S/4 per gallon for two months, which he claims was not implemented despite being recorded in official minutes.

Héctor Vargas, president of urban transport companies in Lima and Callao, added that the sector faces issues beyond fuel costs. He reported a sustained decrease in drivers since 2024 due to increased threats and violence, forcing companies to operate at only 30% to 40% capacity. Vargas noted that the government acknowledged this structural crisis during technical discussions.