A week after Greece's truck drivers staged a walkout, plunging the troubled country into chaos, workers have agreed to end the strike, so long as negotiations are resumed over the government's plans to liberalise the freight industry.
The announcement came as a relief to the country's fruit and vegetable exporters. Thanos Economou of cooperative ACN Naoussa told Fruitnet.com that the strike had had an impact on domestic deliveries.
'At first, the main problem was with clingstone peaches for canning, as a lack of fuel caused many canneries to shut down,' he said. 'It also affected domestic deliveries of table grapes to Salonica and Athens.'
Organic grower Johannes Eisenbach, of the Organic Marketing & Export Network (OMEN), said that the strike had had a minimal impact on business.
'We haven't had a problem,' he told Fruitnet.com. 'It is still early in our grape season, so we are able to leave the fruit on the trees for longer or even store them, and our customers are aware of the possibility of delays.'
He also said that exports had still been possible. 'We have faced delays of only one day,' he stated, 'and we have managed to export a lot of trucks. There are always times when trucks can go through, so the strike has not been 100 per cent.'
Dr Eisenbach added that although the opening-up of Greece's freight sector might be necessary according to EU regulations, the timing was far from ideal.
'It is unpopular with many, but it has to be done,' he said, 'However, right now, during the tourist season and the grape export season – this may not be the best time.'
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