Transport workers and farmers in Catalunya and Extremadura brought two of Spain's major cities to a standstill yesterday in the country's first protest at the high tax on diesel fuel. Nationwide blockades and demonstrations are planned for next Tuesday, and full-scale strikes in many sectors have been threatened for the beginning of October.
The access and ring roads leading into Barcelona were blocked by trucks and tractors, causing 5 km tailbacks. Taxi drivers caused added chaos by staging "Operation Snail" - driving their vehicles at walking pace in convoy around the city, preventing thousands of drivers reaching the Catalan capital or getting to work.
The situation was made worse by the fact that the day coincided with the first day of the school term, with the arrival of school buses on the streets.
One of the few drivers fortunate enough to reach the centre of Barcelona before the barricades closed his access found deserted streets. "I drove down Balmes Avenue at 80 k.p.h. this morning. On most mornings I don't get above 20 k.p.h.," he boasted.
Mr Pedro Aberrola, a spokesman for the truckers' association, declared the day a great success. "There were more than 200 taxis and trucks involved. We are now waiting to hear from the rest of the country to decide on our next move," he said.
Merida, near the Portuguese border, was the scene of the second major protest when hundreds of farmers and agricultural workers from a wide area of Extremadura converged on the city to block the four major access roads to the ancient Roman town, which houses one of the country's largest agricultural fairs and cattle markets.
Mr Lorenzo Ramos, spokesman for one of the farmers' organisations, was also delighted with the turnout. "More than 700 vehicles took part in the protest, many more than we had anticipated," he said.
Spanish farmers complain they have been particularly badly hit by increased oil prices; the cost of agricultural-grade diesel has increased by almost 50 per cent over the past 12 months, compared with only 17 per cent for ordinary diesel and lead-free petrol.
During the same period, farmers' incomes have fallen by 4 per cent or 12 per cent over the past three years. 51.4 per cent of the price of Spanish diesel fuel goes to the government in taxation, slightly lower than the 56.7 per cent in Ireland.