- Title: 'Exploited' truckers strike at German motorway gains union support after attack
- Date: 18th April 2023
- Summary: GRAEFENHAUSEN-WEST A5 MOTORWAY STOP, WEITERSTADT, GERMANY (APRIL 18, 2023) (REUTERS) PARKED TRUCKS TRUCKS WITH BANNERS (German) "WE ARE ON STRIKE" WITH THE LOGO OF GERMAN TRADE UNION VERDI CLOSE BANNER "(German) "WE ARE ON STRIKE" GEORGIAN FLAG VARIOUS OF PROTESTORS WITH FLAGS NEXT TO TRUCKS SIGN READING (English) "MAZUR: PAY YOUR WORKERS!") (NOTE: MAZUR IS THE POLISH TRAN
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2023 14:31
- Keywords: Autobahn German motorway protest rest stop truck protest trucks working rights
- Location: GRAEFENHAUSEN-WEST A5 MOTORWAY STOP, WEITERSTADT, GERMANY
- City: GRAEFENHAUSEN-WEST A5 MOTORWAY STOP, WEITERSTADT, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Civil Unrest,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001596418042023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The tide may finally be turning for the drivers of 63 trucks who have been striking at a German motorway in the country’s south-west for nearly four weeks.
The drivers, predominantly from Georgia and Uzbekistan are employed by the Polish haulier group Lukmaz, Agmaz and Imperia under the business ownership of Wawrzenczyce local Lukasz Mazur and family.
The drivers claim they have been paid either no wages or are missing significant portions of their wages and allege that there have been threats made against them and that in some cases documents have been withheld.
"These drivers from Georgia and Uzbekistan are on strike because they are totally exploited. They live in their trucks for months, were forced to sign documents they do not understand, are confronted with illegal wage deductions. They basically don't have a clue how they get paid. Their employer is refusing to send them documents. It's basically like a social crime scene here. And these drivers said enough is enough." Dutch FNV trade union representative Edwin Atema told Reuters from the Graefenhausen-West motorway stop on the A5.
Truck driver Koba Kvantaliani has been working for the company for 8 months and drives on average 10,000 km per month. He decided to join the strike after wages were deducted with no prior notice or explanation.
He and other drivers, he says, are also concerned for their safety if they return to Poland.
"Because they deducted 400 euros from our wages and did not warn us about it. This started our strike," he said.
"I would also like to add that they threaten us - if we go to Poland, they promise that they will detain us and we want a guarantee that no one will touch us in Poland if we enter it."
German and international trade unions have joined the truckers to show their solidarity and to offer assistance in the negotiations.
Atema has been elected by the drivers as their spokesman.
"The company came with Polish gangsters to try to beat up the drivers and to get back their trucks. The employer and those gangsters all ended up being arrested. Three weeks ago, we started here with the employer saying, those guys, I owe those guys no money. Now they are slowly starting to pay," Atema said referring to an April 7 assault caught on video where the Polish company employing the truckers attempted to retake the trucks.
The attack led to intervention by German police with charges being pressed against the security company, according to German media.
Atema told Reuters that some wages have now been paid but that the group will stay on strike until all the drivers have received the necessary compensation.
The Polish haulier runs some 1,000 trucks which drive goods for Ikea, Volkswagen, Carlsberg and DHL.
According to Atema, there will be a debate on corporate due diligence in the European Parliament this week, where he hopes for some progress on supply chain accountability.
"Multinational companies from Europe have signed up on U.N. global compacts, like we don't accept this in our supply chain. But that nice policy does not reach the cabins of these drivers. So those contractors of these companies should sit down with trade unions to implement due diligence in their supply chains," Atema said.
"This story shows the social bankruptcy of this industry,†he added.
While there is some progress in the wages discussion, German media outlets have reported that the Polish haulier company has filed charges of misappropriation against the truckers.
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