“No thanks, Mr. Premier”: Polish truck drivers slow down Johnson

“No thanks, Mr. Premier”
Polish truck drivers slow down Johnson

True to the motto “You always see each other twice in life”, the British Prime Minister offers Polish truck drivers special visas. But many do not even think about helping out in the United Kingdom against the fuel crisis. After all, Brexit drove people off the island.

Polish truck drivers are declining to offer three months to help tackle supply shortages in Great Britain. “No thanks, Prime Minister, I will not take this opportunity,” says Jakub Pajka behind the wheel of his red truck in a parking lot outside Warsaw. “No driver wants to move for just three months just to make it easier for the British to prepare for the Christmas holidays.” The 35-year-old quit his job in the UK because of Brexit.

On Sunday, the British government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that it would issue 5,000 visas for foreign truck drivers until December 24 in view of ongoing supply shortages. Their main task is to transport gasoline to filling stations.

The extra money could not make up for the hassle of moving, the threat of migrants trying to cross the English Channel in the back of a truck, or being separated from his family, says Pajka. “The money that can be made in the UK does not compensate a driver for all the dangerous things that happen to him there.”

Jacek Rembikowski, a 60-year-old trucker in another parking lot, has a similar opinion. He worked in the UK for seven years before returning to Poland because of the UK’s exit from the European Union. At that time it was unclear how the drivers would be treated and whether they would still be needed after Brexit, explains Rembikowski.

Johnson wants to hold out until Christmas

In view of the panic buying at gas stations and supply bottlenecks among the population, Johnson assured an adequate supply. “We want to make sure that we make all the necessary preparations to hold out until Christmas and beyond, not only in the supply of gas stations, but in all supply chains,” said the Prime Minister in London. If necessary, the army should also help to bridge the bottlenecks in the gasoline supply. Great Britain is already struggling with rising gas prices, which are driving up energy costs and leading to a shortage of goods.

There were occasional scuffles because motorists were jostling for access to the petrol pump. Pictures were posted on the Internet showing people pouring gasoline into old water bottles instead of reserve canisters. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps therefore called on citizens to refrain from: “This is dangerous.” In some parts of the country, up to 90 percent of the petrol stations were without fuel, as the industry association PRA announced. Sometimes long queues formed in front of the remaining gas pumps.

There is an estimated 100,000 shortage of truck drivers in the UK. Because of the Brexit, many truckers have returned to the European continent. In addition, the corona restrictions meant that training came to a standstill. Economy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said soldiers could help out with the gasoline deliveries. A limited number of military tank truck drivers had been put on standby. They should be used when needed for supply. The British Medical Association demanded preferential fuel access for health workers so that they can come to hospitals and practices.

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