Spaniards stall on strike payments
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I Delays by the Spanish government in paying compensation to British operators hit by last October's haulage strike are a "masterpiece of evasion and bureaucratic nonsense", according to the Freight Transport Association.
The association, which is handling claims for about 10 of its members for damage and loss of earnings, says companies are being hindered by red tape and confusion over which government department is responsible for compensation claims.
The Spanish government issued a model claim form shortly after the strike and stressed it would consider pleas for compensation, but despite this it has been "an increasingly uphill struggle to recover any compensation whatsoever", says the FTA. The association will be pressing the Spanish to act at next month's bilateral road haulage conference where civil servants from both governments and the trade bodies will meet.
The FTA is considering extending its services to members with the introduction of an international fuel and payments card; a fax service giving instant information on strikes, blockades and road closures; and a security audit operation.
The idea of a security audit follows last year's memo of understanding on drug trafficking signed by Customs and Excise, the FTA and the RHA.
It has also sent a questionnaire to members asking them whether they would be interested in a DKV card — backed by the TRU — for tolls, ferries and breakdown services.