Protesting Polish truck drivers say EU policy is driving down pay

A weekslong protest by Polish truck drivers and farmers escalated this week.

These workers began blocking Medyka, a key border crossing between Ukraine and Poland, on Monday, Reuters reported. This is the fourth crossing that Polish truck drivers are blocking since they began their protest on Nov. 6.

The chief complaint of these Polish workers is that Ukrainian carriers are now able to more freely access the European Union freight market.

Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian fleets had to purchase permits to operate in the EU. The EU waived that requirement starting last year to bring economic relief to Ukraine, as Brussels, Belgium-based Euronews reported.

Now, Polish drivers say Ukrainian carriers are undercutting them and making it impossible to compete, according to Notes from Poland and the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian carriers have lower operating costs, in part because they do not have to comply with EU climate regulations.

Another complaint of these drivers comes from the long lines at these border crossings. Reuters and Notes from Poland both reported that Ukraine requires Polish drivers to join an electronic queuing system to leave Ukraine, while Ukrainian drivers are allowed to wait at home for their turn to exit the country.

Source: freightwaves.com