Polish carriers are planning a two-month strike starting in early November.
Starting November 3, Polish carriers are planning a huge strike on the Ukrainian border. However, while previously they were limited to one checkpoint, now they plan to close all available entrances from Ukraine. However, it is unlikely that they will succeed, although there may be traffic delays in certain areas.
The first gathering of 30-50 participants has already been agreed with local authorities near the Korchova checkpoint for 10 a.m. on November 3. The campaign is planned for two months, i.e. until the end of 2024, according to the International Transport Association of Ukraine.
The strikes were caused by excessive competition between Ukrainian and Polish carriers after the liberalization of international transportation between Ukraine and the EU. Polish carriers demand such actions from the authorities:
- to return permits to Ukrainian carriers;
- to tighten the rules of transportation under the ECMT for foreign (i.e., Ukrainian) carriers;
- inability to register companies in Poland if the company’s finances are not located in the EU;
- a separate queue in the E-queue for cars with EU license plates;
- a separate queue at all borders for empty trucks;
- get access to the Shlyakh system.
In addition to strikes at the border with Ukraine, strikes are planned for the ports of Gdynia and Gdansk (Poland), which account for the lion’s share of freight from Ukraine, starting November 9. After the closure of the Ukrainian ports, these ports received an increase in the load of Ukrainian imports and exports. At the same time, local employees did not receive a pay raise.
However, the Polish authorities can still prevent these strikes or even create conditions to avoid them.
