Tag: agitators

Taxi Driver protests, pay increase: $500/driver today – 13 October, 2014

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Umbrella-Movement-13-October/44936653_2QD54K#!i=3608954748&k=36CgwCq

A group of about 30 taxi’s parked on the tram tracks heading towards Central, and lent to their horns to annoy all around. Most drivers sat in their cars eating lunch, when asked why they were there “My manager (the person who owns/manages the taxi and its licence) told me to come” Based on the previous protest, I asked the drivers “Are you getting paid $400 to come here”.”No, it’s $500″ confirmed two drivers.

Unsurprisingly when I tried to take photos of those organising the taxi protest, they tried to avoid the camera and refused to answer the question “How many drivers are here without being paid to come?”

 

Taxi Drivers Paid $400 to Stage ‘Protest’

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Taxi-Drivers-Paid-400-Protest/44789926_Gwxd2B#!i=3590583185&k=Cx2Cpwj

At around 5:30pm on Sunday, some 20 taxis were stopped on Gloucester Road attempting to breach the police roadblock (under the pedestrian bridge to Immigration Tower) and drive into Admiralty to attack the student protests.

Around 50 police responded as several of the drivers left their parked cars, unfurled banners and tried to physically push past the police while verbally insulting those who’d gathered to watch. The drivers who’d remained in their cars, engines on, spent several minutes with their fingers on horns disrupting a large part of Wanchai with the noise.

Speaking to some of the drivers, bc asked why they were there “Because our manager told us to come” said one, who then added “If we come, make some noise and ‘protest’ then our shift is free”. When asked to explain he clarified “The shift fee for renting my taxi today is $400, because I come to ‘protest’ this shift is free”. Two other drivers backed up the first’s comments.

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Taxi-Drivers-Paid-400-Protest/44789926_Gwxd2B#!i=3590571415&k=mB2fGpz

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Taxi-Drivers-Paid-400-Protest/44789926_Gwxd2B#!i=3590573092&k=qBFV2Lx

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Taxi-Drivers-Paid-400-Protest/44789926_Gwxd2B#!i=3590578861&k=W4Ft2T8

Click on the photos to see more

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Taxi-Drivers-Paid-400-Protest/44789926_Gwxd2B#!i=3590624262&k=hhLRWjq