Transport workers in the Ecuadorean city resume work after partial strike – Prensa Latina

Urban bus drivers decided to return to normal working hours after working only from 04:00 to 14:00 local time, from May 21, until the day before.

As they claimed, it is not profitable to keep buses on the streets full time, due to the 49 percent increase in the cost of diesel, following the executive decree signed by former President Lenin Moreno, which created a gang system to determine costs – monthly fuel costs.

In addition to rejecting the increase in fuel to power the units, drivers are demanding targeted subsidies, value-added tax refunds, and exemption from tariffs for tires, oil and spare parts.

While demanding compliance with their demands, carrier leaders opted to return to normal business after holding meetings with city authorities, the Ministry of Transportation and the (interior) government.

Ecuadorean Minister of Transport, Marcelo Cabrera, said that a positive agreement had been reached for Guayaquil and the country, with the Guayas Urban Transport Association (Vitog).

In this regard, he announced that there is a commitment to hold a new meeting to address the issue next Tuesday.

For his part, Christian Sarmiento, president of Vitog, confirmed that they had lifted the strike before the opening of the national government.

The partial suspension period of 13 days affected the movement of residents, despite the fact that due to the lack of service, the municipality of Guayaquil ordered reinforcements through the express school, which were not enough to cover the demand, especially during peak hours such as leaving the workplace.

The hike in fuel prices also triggered demonstrations by drivers of heavy vehicles, taxis, school buses and inter-institutional in this capital, days before the strike in the province of Guayaquil.

AGP / SCM