Here's a Google-translated blurb from http://palermo.repubblica.it/dettaglio-news/11:54/4098673
"Trucking: Protest continues in Sicily, Palermo-Sciacca blocked
Palermo, 17 January - (Adnkronos) - drivers' protest continues in Sicily against the rising price of gasoline. Due to the strike of the truck and 'left off this morning automobile traffic in the highway Palermo-Sciacca at San Cipirello. More than 40 trucks blocked the main road. On site there are traffic police patrols and police. There are many inconveniences to motorists in the rest of Sicily. Deans also this morning at the Palermo-Messina motorway. The strike will continue 'until January 20."
So basically what's happening is that the truck drivers think that gas is too expensive. I guess because gas taxes are too high(?) Lowering the gas taxes would be the only thing the government could do to lower the price, right? Or maybe the strikers want the government to subsidize it? I'm no economic expert. The big issue is, "no one in Italy pays their taxes." Ok, ok, we all know an ugly stereotype when we see one. But perhaps you've heard that a few European Union nations are in fiscal trouble. Italy is one of them. So I think, I think, what's going on is that the Italian government is scrambling for money anywhere they can. I know that there were some laws passed this month that even affect the Americans, such as the new rule that any cash purchase over 1,000EU must have a receipt. That may seem obvious to my American readers, but believe it or not, we've been paying our rent by giving our landlord a fat wad of cash every month. That's the common practice; cash rules here. (Why? So "no one has to pay taxes.") Brace yourselves - here's my half-ignorant, probably wrong, shouldn't be quoted Italian current economic affairs theory: Cash has ruled for a really long time, both on the level of government and on the level of the people; Italy jumped on with the European Union and perhaps didn't worry as much about their fiscal state as they should have; the EU cracked down and now Italy is scrambling for money; governments make money through taxes so taxes are rising; no one pays income tax the way "we all do" in the States, so Italy is taxing more tangible things like gas; gas is getting really expensive and people are getting mad.
Again, that could be waaaaaaay off. Feel free to comment with more educated knowledge if it's in your noggin.
So anyway, today is Wednesday the 18th and this strike started on Monday and is scheduled to go through Friday, and all of Sicily's gas stations ran out of gas today. You read correctly - we have no gas. I'm not terribly worried, personally. I'm lucky to be in a situation where the earth doesn't stop spinning if I can't drive. I can walk to shops; my job on base isn't essential.
The immediate future might be a tad...interesting, however. Apparently the trucker's strike is scheduled to end at midnight on Friday, but then a bigger strike is scheduled to begin next Monday, where the actual gas stations themselves and other service providers will go on strike. Will gas actually get delivered this weekend, and if so, will everyone who wants gas be able to get it in their cars, including little ol' me? What does next week have in store? So far, the protests have been fairly peaceful. Let's hope it stays that way.
It's times like this that I revert back to the basic needs that I learned in elementary school: as long as I'm able to get food, I have the protection of our house, water runs out of the facets, and I've got clothes to keep me warm, I think I'll be alright. If I have to hunker down for a few days and snuggle with the pets and a few good books, I can do that too. Good luck to you all, protesters and Italian government; I will be staying well out of your way.
**Update on January 19**
My friend, Maggie, a native Sicilian, posted this comment on Facebook:
"with all the due respect Erin it is not only a high price gas issue, but everything, all the italian people the middle class, are at the point that we live to pay bills, it is impossible to save money, the raise is everywhere every kind of tax, not only gas, but the thing that pissed us off is the fact the they raise the taxes, cut the pensions cut the job bonuses, but they did not cut the salary of those pigs that rule us in the parliament, Italy is not a republic anymore, it is a regime, a monarchy of the politicians that keep stealing and waste...."
Thank you to Maggie for shedding some informed light on my speculative ramblings. 'Living to pay the bills' paints a vivid picture of a punishing, repressed life. If the big cats in government keep getting fatter while the middle class barely scrapes by, I can understand the resentment. I don't know the answer, but there won't be an answer if the disparaging parties don't get together to talk. And if I have to go without gas in my car for a little while in order to get people to talk and make some just and fair changes, I will do that without complaint.
**end update**
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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120117/local/Truckers-caught-in-Sicily-blockade.402643
Matthew Xuereb
Truckers caught in Sicily blockade
A Virtu Ferries catamaran sailing out of Grand Harbour in Valletta.
"A blockade of ports by Sicilian truck drivers has prevented trailers from loading goods, including those destined for Malta, but the extent of damage this may cause the island will only be determined if the situation drags on.
The last time similar action was taken was in autumn of 2000 when truck drivers brought the Sicilian economy to a standstill with a 10-day strike.
A spokesman for one of the main freight forwarding companies in Malta told The Times yesterday that the strike action caused severe congestion around the ports from where they operate. The company had a number of truck drivers caught in the centre of the strike action.
The spokesman, who spoke on condition that the firm was not named, said his company was making alternative arrangements to have cargo shipped from other ports in Italy such as Genoa and Civitavecchia. The trip from Civitavecchia to Malta takes two days, as opposed to 90 minutes by catamaran from Pozzallo to Malta.
The strike action was ordered by the association representing Sicilian truck drivers (Associazione Imprese Autotrasportatori Siciliani) and the action is expected to last until Thursday, unless a solution to the problem is found before.
The Sicilian truck drivers blocked entrances and exits of the ports in Pozzallo and Catania and roads and motorways in Palermo.
The managing director of Virtu Ferries, Henri Saliba, said the action had not had any effect on its operations so far but if it was prolonged, it would surely hit its commercial vehicle clients.
Virtu Ferries, which operates a daily catamaran link between Malta and Sicily, had to cancel its trips yesterday evening and this morning but this was due to the inclement weather and the rough sea, Mr Saliba said.
Several Maltese businesses, which knew about this planned blockade by Sicilian truck drivers from weeks ahead, managed to make arrangements for their goods to reach Malta from other destinations.
The main gripe of Sicilian truck drivers is the price of fuel which they believe has reached “unsustainable levels”. They are also saying the present system has brought about a reality where the cost to transport goods was greater than the cost of the actual product.
Contacted yesterday, one Sicilian truck driver who owns his own freight company said the rising costs of transportation were having a drastic effect on his profitability.
“We cannot have a situation where a product costs €1 and the price to transport it €1.20. Once the transportation costs surpass the actual cost of the product, the system breaks down. I can’t continue like this. I have a family to feed,” Paolo Caltanivetta said from his truck, which was blocking the exit from the port of Pozzallo.
The truck drivers are also complaining about the rising costs of insuring their vehicles and of wear and tear."
The last time similar action was taken was in autumn of 2000 when truck drivers brought the Sicilian economy to a standstill with a 10-day strike.
A spokesman for one of the main freight forwarding companies in Malta told The Times yesterday that the strike action caused severe congestion around the ports from where they operate. The company had a number of truck drivers caught in the centre of the strike action.
The spokesman, who spoke on condition that the firm was not named, said his company was making alternative arrangements to have cargo shipped from other ports in Italy such as Genoa and Civitavecchia. The trip from Civitavecchia to Malta takes two days, as opposed to 90 minutes by catamaran from Pozzallo to Malta.
The strike action was ordered by the association representing Sicilian truck drivers (Associazione Imprese Autotrasportatori Siciliani) and the action is expected to last until Thursday, unless a solution to the problem is found before.
The Sicilian truck drivers blocked entrances and exits of the ports in Pozzallo and Catania and roads and motorways in Palermo.
The managing director of Virtu Ferries, Henri Saliba, said the action had not had any effect on its operations so far but if it was prolonged, it would surely hit its commercial vehicle clients.
Virtu Ferries, which operates a daily catamaran link between Malta and Sicily, had to cancel its trips yesterday evening and this morning but this was due to the inclement weather and the rough sea, Mr Saliba said.
Several Maltese businesses, which knew about this planned blockade by Sicilian truck drivers from weeks ahead, managed to make arrangements for their goods to reach Malta from other destinations.
The main gripe of Sicilian truck drivers is the price of fuel which they believe has reached “unsustainable levels”. They are also saying the present system has brought about a reality where the cost to transport goods was greater than the cost of the actual product.
Contacted yesterday, one Sicilian truck driver who owns his own freight company said the rising costs of transportation were having a drastic effect on his profitability.
“We cannot have a situation where a product costs €1 and the price to transport it €1.20. Once the transportation costs surpass the actual cost of the product, the system breaks down. I can’t continue like this. I have a family to feed,” Paolo Caltanivetta said from his truck, which was blocking the exit from the port of Pozzallo.
The truck drivers are also complaining about the rising costs of insuring their vehicles and of wear and tear."
Wow! Chris and I have been discussing what's happening out there, like "is that a regular thing?" "Didn't sound like it" "Is it because of the cruise wreck... that doesn't make sense"
ReplyDeleteSo thank you for letting us know and good luck!