Colombian Truckers End Strike

Voice of America
October 6, 2004

Colombian truckers have ended a 21-day strike after legislators negotiated an agreement with the government on controlling rising gasoline prices.

The understanding reached in Bogota late Tuesday calls for regular meetings between the government and the truckers over the next few months to draft a new fuel rate schedule.

The strike involving truck drivers who transport imports and exports was called September 14 to protest recent fuel price increases of more than 10 percent. Those increases were caused by a decrease in government subsidies.

Although the strike was difficult for businesses shipping cargo across country, the strikers did not block Colombian highways as in previous protests.