ABSTRACT
French blockades are instigated by Trade Unions, sometimes by Employers' Associations, sometimes by 'local committees' and sometimes by a combination of interests. The blockade, the fuel tax protest, was the result of a combination of different strategies. According to the international media, Europe's fuel crisis started in late August with a blockade of English Channel ports by French fishermen. The economic outlook was quite good for the road haulage industry both in 1999 and 2000. The level of metropolitan road transport, measured in tonne-kilometres, increased by 7.7 per cent in 1999 and by 2.6 per cent in 2000. Using a system dynamics model called 'Simtrans' showed the changes during the two years 1999 and 2000 and helps to understand the reason why a blockade happened. The economic and social background to the 2000 situation had become more complicated in terms of 'representation' and competition between employers' associations on the one hand, and trade unions on the other.
