Drivers go on strike

Drivers go on strike

BANDUNG: Hundreds of public transport drivers held a noisy
strike yesterday, causing heavy traffic congestion and leaving
thousands of passengers stranded.

Antara reported that the drivers of minibuses for the
Tegallega-Banjaran route refused to take passengers and, instead,
began a slow procession along the Banjaran Road, honking their
horns all the time.

The strike, which started at around 8 a.m. and ended some six
hours later, was held to protest the setting up by the
authorities of new routes for some 400 additional minibuses which
also start and finish at Banjaran.

The striking drivers were concerned that the new routes would
increase competition.

"How can we pay for the daily rental fees or our debts, if the
authorities add new buses to the already packed route," Wawan,
one of the drivers, said.

The land transportation control agency promised to reconsider
the new routes. (swe)