Shanghai, China: Striking Chinese truck drivers have won concessions in their battle against rising costs that threatened to disrupt Shanghai, the world’s biggest port.
The Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority agreed to cancel a fuel surcharge and lower others in the container and road transport business, reports the Sunday Telegraph in London.
Drivers were protesting against the increase in port service charges linked to dearer fuel. The strike became violent with striking drivers throwing stones at lorries driven by non-strikers.
Government officials are due to meet truck driver representatives on Monday to try to end the strike. Some drivers said they would continue to strike unless they were offered a better deal and there were reports that text messages threatening violence against non-strikers are still circulating.
No mention was made about the strikes in official announcements about the fee concession but the decision to defuse the situation reflects concern about the spread of industrial action as the increase in inflation starts to run through the economy, the newspaper reports.