The Mexican Alliance of Transport Organizations (AMOTAC) confirmed that Veracruz is heading toward an imminent statewide strike due to the lack of agreements with the government and authorities’ refusal to address complaints involving extortion, abuse of power, missing drivers, and an atmosphere of insecurity that, according to delegates, has left the sector “worse than they think.”
Following a meeting with Regional Policy Director Adolfo Toss and representatives of the National Guard, Captains Galicia and Romero, AMOTAC representatives accused authorities of leaving the meeting unfinished, without commitments and without a formal conclusion from government officials. This prompted the decision to suspend activities throughout the state.
During the meeting, delegates complained that the government continues to say that it is “addressing their concerns,” but has offered no concrete solutions to stop abuses by municipal and state authorities, irregular towing charges, the disappearance of vehicles, and the lack of security patrols along the most dangerous routes.
The frustration escalated when, according to testimony from those present, Toss left the meeting without saying goodbye. The transport representatives interpreted this as a lack of respect and a sign that there would be no immediate institutional response.
“Because of the authorities’ incompetence, nothing was accomplished. We were asking for a solution. They told us they were addressing us, but what we want is a solution, and the entire state is worse than they think,” warned state leader Joaquín Gómez Fernández.
AMOTAC representatives said the state government maintains a form of “protectionism” toward towing service providers, while citizens and transporters “are subjected to the full weight of the law.”
They claimed that there is a towing operator whose name “always comes up” in procedures and that, despite this, authorities insist that the operator has no prior record. According to the transport sector, this confirms the existence of irregular interests and protection.
Meanwhile, Andy Rossini, AMOTAC’s national secretary, accused the state government of clearly covering for towing service providers.
“And coincidentally, the full weight of the law falls on citizens, but not on towing service providers. So we see it as protectionism toward these providers because, coincidentally, one name always comes up and the officials say they have no prior record.”
The decision to strike in Veracruz was made by Joaquín Gómez, the state delegate, together with regional delegates from Veracruz, after concluding that there is no real response to their demands in any area.
AMOTAC’s national secretary also confirmed that the mobilization will receive support from Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Oaxaca, as well as from other states that are expected to join in solidarity over what the organization describes as increasing economic pressure and vulnerability within the transportation sector.
The delegates warned that they do not intend to affect third parties, but argued that they are already being affected by insecurity, abuses, and a lack of regulation.
They recalled that the transport organization has more than 7,000 members in Veracruz and that, with the support of other delegations, the government “will have to listen to us or provide a solution.”
The strike does not yet have an announced date, but it could be activated at any time.
“Because we are already fed up with transporters continuing to be harmed, being hit economically while not being protected from the insecurity affecting Veracruz,” Rossini warned.
Source: msn
