CHINA: Truck drivers angry about rising fuel prices continue to strike in Shanghai

Record ID: 343495

  • Title: CHINA: Truck drivers angry about rising fuel prices continue to strike in Shanghai
  • Date: 22nd April 2011
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (APRIL 21, 2011) (REUTERS) CONTAINER TRUCKS ON ROAD NEAR PARKING LOT FOR TRUCKS CONTAINER TRUCKS IN TRAFFIC PEOPLE LOOKING ON NEAR PARKING LOT PARKING LOT FOR CONTAINER TRUCKS ON A SEMI-COMPLETED ROAD CONTAINER TRUCKS PARKED ON ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 33-YEAR-OLD TRUCK DRIVER ON STRIKE, MR.WEI, SAYING: "Basically for us, the truck drivers, there
  • Embargoed: 7th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Economic News,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA155O20DNJMX74CH8LLQC2F0RF
  • Story Text: Truck drivers angry about rising fuel prices continued to strike for the second day on Thursday (April 21), after holding mass protest demanding the government resolve the issue.
    Truck drivers said that about two thousand people took part in a protest on Thursday morning in a suburban area of Shanghai a few blocks from the port of Waigaoqiao (pron: wai-gaw-chaw), and that at least six were arrested.
    They said thousands had also demonstrated on Wednesday (April 20) at Waigaoqiao and another port, Baoshan (pron: baw-shan).
    Truckers said the protests were sparked by rising fuel prices and new fuel surcharges per container carried put in place because of the increased fuel costs.
    At a parking lot a few blocks from the site of protests, drivers like 33-year-old Mr. Wei said they wanted action from the government.
    "Basically for us, the truck drivers, there is nothing to gain from working. We cannot earn any profits. There is now no difference for us between working and not working. So everyone has stopped and is not working," he said.
    Some drivers said their average monthly salary was now less than two thirds of what it had been last year, and they were unable to carry on working unless authorities took action to resolve the problem.
    "The (costs) pressures for us are that logistics warehouse (where we load our goods) and the port are charging some ridiculous fees. Also, oil prices have been rising and we are unable to raise the cost of our transportation, so we cannot earn any profits," said Wei.
    Police later came to the parking lot to disperse the drivers fearing more protests, at least two people were arrested.
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