Truck drivers in Eastern Europe get the job done, Polish employer sends ‘thug team’

“It is historic that exploited drivers from Eastern Europe have been out of work for more than a week because they are so tired of years of exploitation. They have the support of the ETF and all trade unions,” says Frank Morels, President of the Belgian Transport Confederation BTB-ABVV and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF). Transport members.

Behind the drivers are the German advisory network Fair Mobility and several German trade unionists. In addition, passing truck drivers, who mainly come from Georgia and Uzbekistan, are also expressing their solidarity.

a team

On Friday, the situation spiraled out of control when a Polish business owner sent a team of thugs into the parking lot. “In armored vehicles and in full combat gear, their job was to intimidate the truck drivers and, if necessary, use force to move the trucks away,” says Morels. The confrontation was prevented by large-scale police work. Nineteen people were arrested, including the director himself.

Chauffeurs of various Polish companies drove on behalf of large companies such as Ikea, Volkswagen and DHL. The ETF is calling on the major economic players to stop doing business with the owner of these Polish carriers.

“Economic players hold the key to stopping this exploitation and social dumping,” Morells says. “In their race to the bottom in cheaper modes of transportation, exploitation and criminal activities are the only way to meet this very low price. This must urgently stop.”