Lima transport unions call for strike over extortion crisis

Transport unions in Lima and Callao have called for a 24-hour strike on August 25 to protest a surge in extortion, violent attacks, and killings targeting the public transport sector. Representatives from the Coordinadora de Empresas de Transporte Urbano and Anitra report that nearly 100% of formal companies face daily criminal harassment, with over 160 drivers murdered so far this year.

Union leaders have criticized the government’s ‘Plan Escudo’ as ineffective and noted they were not consulted during its creation. They are demanding intelligence-led operations to dismantle extortion networks rather than just military presence at terminals. Additionally, the Cámara de Transporte Urbano has called on the ATU to finally utilize two-year-old budget allocations intended for installing security cameras in buses.

While several major transport gremios support the strike, the Asociación de Concesionarios y Transportistas Unidos (ACTU) has announced it will not participate, citing an opening for dialogue with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and commitments to hold meetings with security officials.