Truck drivers' leaders diverge over halting strike

In the second meeting with representatives from  eleven truck driver trade unions, the government attempted to come to an agreement, but not all of those in attendance accepted the deal.

José Fonseca Lopes, a representative from the Brazilian Association of Truck Drivers, rejected the proposal brought forth by the government to suspend the strike for 15 days to a month while the government continues to seek a solution to the problem with diesel prices.

Lopes said that other union leaders welcomed the government’s suggestion, but he did not, and left the meeting before it was over. The association chaired by Lopes represents 700 thousand truckers, with 600 trade unions spread throughout Brazil.

While the meeting was taking place at the Planalto presidential palace, Wallace Landim, a union leader representing autonomous drivers in the country’s Central-West, said his trade had no representation in the meeting and that no decision made in it would be taken into consideration. His stance is similar to that of Lopes—blockages should continue until the taxes levied on diesel are eliminated.