20 vehicles smashed including three police cars
Disgruntled taxi drivers in the southwest city of Chongqing staged a rare strike that turned violent yesterday, as drivers smashed three police cars and several other vehicles of cabbies who refused to participate.
At least 20 cars were damaged, including broken windows, Xinhua reported, but omitted to say whether anyone was injured.
Taxi drivers in the main urban areas of the city cited a wide range of grievances for the action, according to state media and residents.
They included a lack of service stations for natural gas, an increase in illegal taxis and the frequency or high level of fines levied by police. Some drivers were also calling for a rise in the 5 yuan (HK$5.67) basic fare and changes to fees the taxi companies charge their drivers.
Most taxis run on natural gas, which the city encouraged to reduce pollution, but long queues are frequent at service stations. Some allege the police collect fines because of corruption or to meet quotas.
