Philippines paralyzed by transport strike.

This is from Radio Australia. The privately run jeepneys are the standard bus service in many urban centres. Their rates are controlled and when gas prices go up their slim profit margins dip even further and some type of drastic action is required so that rates can go up. Of course politicians like to be seen as saving the citizens from high fares so there is often resistance to fare increases. The result is work stoppages such as this and also jeepneys that should not be on the road because the tires are worn as well as everything else.



Philippines paralysed by transport strike
A transport strike by operators of Philippine jeepneys over fuel prices left urban centres across the Philippines paralysed on Monday, forcing thousands to hitch rides or walk home from offices.While police say the strike did not affect the capital Manila, observers say it crippled key cities in the Bicol region on the main island of Luzon, on central Negros and Panay islands and on the southern island of Mindanao.Reuters reports that the strike was called by a left-wing group of transport workers, who are demanding an end to sales taxes on petrol.Police made no arrests, declaring the strike was "generally peaceful".