Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081105/article_379485.htm
Fees lowered to ease taxi strike
Created: 2008-11-5 0:36:33
THE daily fee Chongqing cab drivers pay to their companies will be reduced by up to 70 yuan (US$10.20), down from 440 yuan, said a government spokesman yesterday in China's fourth-largest city. Cab drivers have been on strike in Chongqing due to high driver fees and gas shortages.
It is illegal for cab companies to increase the fares without government permission, said Zhou Bo, vice publicity director of the Communist Party of China Chongqing Municipal Committee, adding that high fees was the main reason for the cabbies' strike.
Shortages of compressed natural gas, which fuels most cabs in Chongqing, competition from unlicensed cabs and high fines for traffic violations ignited the strike.
In addition, the government would revise the division of fares between drivers and companies in favor of the drivers, said Zhou, admitting that the details and methods were yet to be decided.
Unlicensed cab drivers would be penalized to protect the interests of licensed drivers, said Zhou.
Nearly 4,000 cabs, or half of those on strike, went back to work at 2pm yesterday after the municipal government moved to tackle grievances.
However, fear of retaliation from drivers still on strike and the threat of their cars being smashed up may force working drivers back on strike, said Liang Peijun, vice director of the city transport administration, adding that 103 cabs had been vandalized in the past 48 hours.
Cab companies promised to pay for losses and exempt some drivers from daily fees altogether to persuade the employees to come back to work, said Liang.
The government was still considering whether direct supervision of the companies or legislating on income was the best move. It said it was studying issues, including administration costs and the workloads of drivers.
The municipal government said it would also increase the daily supply of compressed natural gas to the municipality. Chongqing has 75 fuel stations, including 46 in major urban areas.
In the run up to the strike, drivers often had to wait three hours to refill their gas tanks because of a limited number of fuel stations. Each taxi needs to be refilled up to four times a day.
Striking driver Tan Daihua said he had promised his wife that he would bring home 100 yuan a day when he began working for a cab company. "However, I have given her only 100 yuan for the past four days. The government should do something to help me back to work."
Owners of cab firms are believed to have profited massively by extracting high payments in return for the right to drive.
It is illegal for cab companies to increase the fares without government permission, said Zhou Bo, vice publicity director of the Communist Party of China Chongqing Municipal Committee, adding that high fees was the main reason for the cabbies' strike.
Shortages of compressed natural gas, which fuels most cabs in Chongqing, competition from unlicensed cabs and high fines for traffic violations ignited the strike.
In addition, the government would revise the division of fares between drivers and companies in favor of the drivers, said Zhou, admitting that the details and methods were yet to be decided.
Unlicensed cab drivers would be penalized to protect the interests of licensed drivers, said Zhou.
Nearly 4,000 cabs, or half of those on strike, went back to work at 2pm yesterday after the municipal government moved to tackle grievances.
However, fear of retaliation from drivers still on strike and the threat of their cars being smashed up may force working drivers back on strike, said Liang Peijun, vice director of the city transport administration, adding that 103 cabs had been vandalized in the past 48 hours.
Cab companies promised to pay for losses and exempt some drivers from daily fees altogether to persuade the employees to come back to work, said Liang.
The government was still considering whether direct supervision of the companies or legislating on income was the best move. It said it was studying issues, including administration costs and the workloads of drivers.
The municipal government said it would also increase the daily supply of compressed natural gas to the municipality. Chongqing has 75 fuel stations, including 46 in major urban areas.
In the run up to the strike, drivers often had to wait three hours to refill their gas tanks because of a limited number of fuel stations. Each taxi needs to be refilled up to four times a day.
Striking driver Tan Daihua said he had promised his wife that he would bring home 100 yuan a day when he began working for a cab company. "However, I have given her only 100 yuan for the past four days. The government should do something to help me back to work."
Owners of cab firms are believed to have profited massively by extracting high payments in return for the right to drive.
Xinhua
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