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IRU tells French to ;art dispute now
Page 14
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'rench strikes block Channel ports, igain, to the frustration of UK
inions... David Harris reports.
TRIKING SEA FRANCE workers who again blockaded Channel outs last week have been condemned by the International Road ransport Union (IRU).
The IRU is frustrated with the inaction of the French government over le repeated strikes — which also happened in October and December ist year— and has asked the European Commission to act.
Martin Marmy, secretary general of the IRU, says: "After the previous .rike the IRU requested the French government to take action but it :ems this appeal fell on deaf ears.so the IRU is now raising the issue with icques Barrot, the European Commission vice-president responsible )r transport and Charlie McCreevy, European Commissioner responsile for internal market and services.
The IRU calculates that such strikes cost the UK road transport sector I m a day.
UK haulage organisations have also condemned the strikes. Geoff 0ossetter, the Freight Transport Association's external affairs director, Racks the delays caused by "recalcitrant Frenchmen": As a fellow lember of the European Union, France must get a grip on this tiresome rid expensive behaviour and act to properly police its ports and allow ic free flow of trade and passengers.
0 A study commissioned by the French transport organisation Comite fational Routier reveals French operators would sec productivity gains f 9-11% if they were to start using 44-tonne trucks. However, there mild also be an increase in fuel consumption of 3-9%, depending on bat type of trailer was used, the report adds. French operators are irrently limited to 40-tonners.