Taxi drivers strike over queues at filling stations
Source: Xinhua |
May 4, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TAXI drivers in a northwest China city went on strike earlier this week to protest long hours of waiting for refills of liquefied petroleum gas, the local government said.
The strike, which involved at least 3,000 taxis in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, began at 8am on Tuesday, a city government official said.
By yesterday morning, about 2,400 taxis were back in service and traffic in downtown areas was "normal," Niu Xiangdong, vice mayor of Lanzhou, told reporters at a press conference.
Lanzhou has about 6,700 taxis, all fueled by LPG. The fuel costs about half the price of gasoline, but LPG filling stations are still few and far between.
Niu said the city government is persuading the other drivers to get back to work soon, with promises to address their complaints properly.
The strike began on the last day of the May Day holiday, with at least 80 LPG-fueled taxis parking at two downtown locations in Chengguan District. Their drivers demanded more LPG stations to meet the growing demand for the fuel.
The city government's transport bureau said only 600 taxis were in service on Tuesday, and at least three taxis had their windows broken by striking cabbies.
"Many drivers work 12 hours a day, but four to five hours are spent waiting in long queues for LPG refills," said a driver surnamed Xu from the Lanzhou Hengshun Taxi Co. "This makes our job even tougher."
Most drivers, Xu said, had to work 12 hours a day to make ends meet. "Our daily operating cost is around 300 yuan (US$48), including 220 yuan for a car rental fee paid to the taxi company, 60 yuan for fuel and 20 yuan for meals."
"If we wait for just two hours instead of four to refuel, we can ensure nine to 10 hours of operation and make about 2,000 yuan a month," he said. "But now, our net profits are close to zero."
Lanzhou has 23 LPG stations for motor vehicles, 13 of which are in downtown areas. "These are far from enough for the city's growing number of LPG-fueled vehicles," Xu said.
The strike, which involved at least 3,000 taxis in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, began at 8am on Tuesday, a city government official said.
By yesterday morning, about 2,400 taxis were back in service and traffic in downtown areas was "normal," Niu Xiangdong, vice mayor of Lanzhou, told reporters at a press conference.
Lanzhou has about 6,700 taxis, all fueled by LPG. The fuel costs about half the price of gasoline, but LPG filling stations are still few and far between.
Niu said the city government is persuading the other drivers to get back to work soon, with promises to address their complaints properly.
The strike began on the last day of the May Day holiday, with at least 80 LPG-fueled taxis parking at two downtown locations in Chengguan District. Their drivers demanded more LPG stations to meet the growing demand for the fuel.
The city government's transport bureau said only 600 taxis were in service on Tuesday, and at least three taxis had their windows broken by striking cabbies.
"Many drivers work 12 hours a day, but four to five hours are spent waiting in long queues for LPG refills," said a driver surnamed Xu from the Lanzhou Hengshun Taxi Co. "This makes our job even tougher."
Most drivers, Xu said, had to work 12 hours a day to make ends meet. "Our daily operating cost is around 300 yuan (US$48), including 220 yuan for a car rental fee paid to the taxi company, 60 yuan for fuel and 20 yuan for meals."
"If we wait for just two hours instead of four to refuel, we can ensure nine to 10 hours of operation and make about 2,000 yuan a month," he said. "But now, our net profits are close to zero."
Lanzhou has 23 LPG stations for motor vehicles, 13 of which are in downtown areas. "These are far from enough for the city's growing number of LPG-fueled vehicles," Xu said.
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