Bus drivers go on strike in Palembang

Bus drivers go on strike in Palembang

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Most passenger bus drivers in the
South Sumatra capital of Palembang went on strike on Monday,
leaving hundreds of city commuters and students stranded.

Drivers said they called the strike to demand an increase in
transport fares following the rise in fuel prices announced last
week.

Only a handful of buses were seen operating in the city,
forcing hundreds of people to compete to get on the few available
vehicles. It took most passengers hours to commute to their
workplaces.

A number of the buses that did operate unilaterally increased
their fares from Rp 700 to Rp 1,000 per passenger, without
approval from local authorities.

"We are forced to adjust transport fares in line with the
raised prices of gasoline and diesel fuel even though the local
administration has yet to decide on increasing the fares," a bus
driver said. --Antara