Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 -- English Window to China News

THE government of Chongqing Municipality has taken measures to help taxi drivers following a work-stoppage that turned violent at times yesterday morning.

Thousands of taxi drivers in the city went on strike over high operating costs, shortages of natural gas, high traffic fines, and the government’s lack of effort at stopping unlicensed taxi operators from stealing fares. By 4pm yesterday, about 1,000 cabbies had returned to work, the People’s Daily said on its Website today.

In response to complaints, the city government said it was studying a proposal to adjust fares.

The Chongqing Economic and Trade Commission said it would increase the supply of natural gas and set up more fuel stations. Drivers usually have to wait one to three hours to fill up at a limited number of fuel stations, according to the report.

The government also promised to cooperate with police and transport departments to crack down on unlicensed cabs and protect the interests of drivers. It said an investigation on operating costs was ongoing. The Chongqing Taxi Association has been seeking the opinions of both cab companies and drivers, the Website said.

Yesterday’s strike began early in the morning. Some taxi drivers smashed the windows of cars belonging to colleagues who tried to cross picket lines and passengers were pulled out of those vehicles. At least 20 vehicles, including three police cars, were smashed.

Thousands were left stranded during morning rush hours when taxi cabs were absent from the city’s crowded streets and people could not get to work, the airport or train station.

The government held an emergency meeting yesterday morning to address the strikers’ demands. The city has 16,000 licensed cabs with about 9,000 operating in the city’s urban areas.

Chongqing, one of the country’s four provincial-level municipalities, has a population of about 31 million people, with more than 5 million living in the urban district.