Mexico: Unionized truck drivers to stage nationwide strike and associated protests Feb. 5

Unionized truck drivers affiliated with various organizations plan to stage a strike across Mexico Feb. 5. The purpose of the action is to denounce perceived growing insecurity on major highways. As a part of the action, activists will hold protests on multiple major highways, blocking freight transport; however, protest organizers have indicated that they will allow normal traffic circulation for cars, buses, and emergency vehicles. Around 150,000 truckers are likely to participate in the protest actions. The main protest site will reportedly be on the Mexico-Queretaro highway.

Moderate-to-severe delays are likely along impacted national highways and will likely cause supply chain disruptions. Transport disruptions could also impact secondary routes. Authorities will almost certainly deploy a heightened security presence to the sites of any protests that materialize. Clashes between police and protesters are possible if gatherings are overly disruptive or if drivers ignore police requests to disperse.