Truck drivers end the strike at the Port of Santos after approval of the Freight MP. Self-employed truck drivers from Baixada Santista, on the coast of São Paulo, ended the strike at the Port of Santos after the Federal Senate approved Provisional Measure (MP) 1,343, known as the Freight MP, which changes the rules on the minimum floor for road freight transport. Now, the proposal goes to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) for approval. The movement, provoked by the Union of Autonomous Road Workers of Goods of Baixada Santista and Vale do Ribeira (Sindicam-Santos), sought to pressure the Senate to put to a vote the measure that was approved by the Chamber of Deputies and would lose validity this Thursday (16). Truck drivers who were paralyzed celebrated the approval of the Freight MP Reproduction/TV Tribuna ? Click here to follow the new g1 Santos channel on WhatsApp. The entity's president, Luciano Santos de Carvalho, thanked all the representatives of the category, as well as associations that provided support, through a video posted on social media. "Now, road truck drivers will have freight worthy of the whole of Brazil, not just Santos, thanks to you and the Santos union. Congratulations", said Carvalho. Truck drivers ended the strike after approval from the Freight MP Reproduction/TV Tribuna According to the union, the strike was officially ended at around 6:30 pm, when operations were released. "Together we will always be stronger", says the note released on social media. Protests The strike began on Monday (13), with a protest carried out by truck drivers on the way down the Alemoa viaduct, in Santos. On that occasion, a trailer was crossed on the avenue to block vehicle access. Truck drivers carry out strike at the Port of Santos Sindicam-Santos According to the Santos Port Authority (APS), the blockade was partial and lasted less than an hour, with protesters allowing passage when requested. On the second day, the impact of the protest affected traffic, with queues of commercial vehicles and slowdowns on the highways of the Anchieta-Imigrantes System (SAI) towards the regulatory yards. Congestion caused by a queue of trucks was recorded on the Cônego Domênio Rangoni Fati Cabral Confusion Highway During a protest, a truck driver was punched in the head by a military police officer and collapsed on the Alemoa viaduct, in Santos. As reported by TV Tribuna, a Globo affiliate, the confusion began after a driver broke the strike, which sparked outrage among the strikers. PM punches protester during protest over Freight PM According to the Military Police, a stone was thrown at the vehicle that was traveling. The act led to the intervention of the agents and ended with the truck driver being punched. In a statement, the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP) reported that the PM is investigating all the circumstances of the approach and analyzing the images from the portable operational cameras (COPs) of the agents involved. According to the ministry, a 46-year-old man was detained during the stoppage, as he threw a stone against the windshield of a truck that was traveling along the road. "During the approach, he resisted police action and attacked the police. Other protesters tried to prevent his arrest and attacked the police officers, who intervened." The detainee was taken to the emergency room for medical care and then to the 5th Police District of Santos, where he was interviewed and released. Truck driver is punched by PM and collapses during strike in Santos Reproduction/Social Networks Freight MP The Senate approved on Tuesday (14) the provisional measure that changes the rules on the minimum floor for road freight, but without the minimum salary of R$5,000 per month for truck drivers. In previous votes, in the commission created to discuss the MP and in the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies, parliamentarians stipulated a national minimum wage of R$5,000 per month for truck drivers who travel long distances. The Senate — the last stage of voting — has now decided to exclude this value, on the grounds that it would be unconstitutional. In other words, the need for a minimum for freight remains maintained, but it will not be up to the National Congress to define values. The MP also toughens punishments for companies that do not pay the minimum wage, which is currently calculated by the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), taking into account the distance traveled, number of axles and the type of truck load. The proposal also provides for amnesty for fines imposed on truck drivers for demonstrations in 2022, in the context of the attempted coup d'état promoted by former president Jair Bolsonaro. However, the government leader in Congress, senator Randolfe Rodrigues (PT-AP), stated this Monday (13) that Lula will veto this part of the proposal.