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Taxi Drivers Strike in Jiaxing, Zhejiang

10:00 Aug 9 2011 Jiaxing, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang, China

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From Reuters:

Hundreds of taxi drivers in the eastern province of Zhejiang protesting rising fuel prices and stagnant wages have gone on strike on Tuesday, just five days after taxi drivers in the provincial capital returned to work following similar disruptions, state news agency Xinhua said.

Over 200 of the 900 cabs in the city of Jiaxin in northern Zhejiang were on strike, Xinhua said, citing the drivers. Dozens of drivers parked their cabs near the city government.

In the province's south, over 100 taxi drivers also struck Tuesday in Cangnan County of the city of Wenzhou, with dozens of them parking nearby the county government.

The Xinhua report said drivers are demanding higher wages as the cost of living and fuel prices have soared in the past few years, but their incomes have barely risen. Representatives of the striking drivers are currently in talks with authorities to work out a solution, Xinhua said, citing the drivers.

Tuesday's strike comes as China said its annual inflation quickened to a higher-than-expected 6.5 percent in July, its highest mark since June 2008. .

About 1,500 disgruntled taxi drivers in Hangzhou went on strike for three days last week, according to state media. .

In response to the strike, Hangzhou's city government pledged to hike cab fares by the end of October and provide cab drivers temporary subsidies, which many drivers had dismissed it as too little and too late.

A series of similar protests by taxi drivers have hit other cities across the nation, highlighting mounting frustration among migrant workers who make up a growing share of the country's workforce.

From China.org.cn:

Hundreds of taxi drivers staged strikes in two places on Tuesday in Zhejiang Province, protesting against rising petrol prices and stagnant wages, just a few days after over 1,500 cab drivers in the provincial capital city of Hangzhou took to the street for the same reason.

According to the protesting drivers, over 200 of the 900 cabs in the city of Jiaxin in northern Zhejiang were on strike Tuesday. Dozens of drivers parked their cabs near the city government.

The strike in Jiaxin ended Tuesday afternoon after drivers reached an agreement with local government to file an application for a public hearing on taxi fares.

In the province's south, over 100 taxi drivers also struck Tuesday in Cangnan County of the city of Wenzhou, with dozens of them parking nearby the county government.

The drivers are demanding higher wages as the cost of living and fuel prices have soared in the past few years, but their incomes have barely risen.

Representatives of the striking drivers in Cangnan are still in talks with authorities to work out a solution, drivers said.

About 1,500 disgruntled taxi drivers in Hangzhou took to the street last week, complaining about skyrocketing food, gasoline and housing prices, and the unchanged taxi fares.

The strike ended three days later on Thursday after drivers received temporary subsidies and a promise from the government to hike fares.

Authorities in Hangzhou said Tuesday that a public hearing on a fare hike will be held in September.

Altogether 24 people, including government officials, scholars, taxi drivers and 10 members of the general public, are being asked to offer objective opinions at the hearing.
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