Shanghai: The truckers' strike in Ningbo has flared again, and this time the action has descended into violence. Up to 7,000 truck drivers, made up from smaller, independent trucking firms, have been campaigning for higher pay. They went on strike for one day on Monday before authorities came in promising to hike pay. With strikes and protests frowned upon by Beijing most local reports of the protest were then wiped from Chinese media the next day.
According to two freight forwarding sources in Ningbo contacted by SinoShip News today the truckers started a new round of protests today with far more people joining in.
“The situation is a bit out of control now and they started to smash other trucks who continued to work,” one freight forwarder told SinoShip News. When the police intervened they were also attacked. A number of people have been arrested and there are plenty of police cars that have been smashed up too. The truckers are claiming they will continue to protest through the weekend.
A number of ships have already seen their schedules delayed from the action. There are also reports reaching SinoShip News that warehouses in and around the port are reaching their full capacity. [21/08/14]
