Politics · Philippines Bureau
Transport group launches strike over fuel costs, wages
The Piston transport coalition began a two-day strike Tuesday to protest rising fuel prices and demand better compensation for jeepney drivers. The action mobilized operators across Metro Manila and other areas as drivers seek government intervention on fuel costs.
LSN Philippines ·
The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) commenced its strike Tuesday, pressuring authorities to address what the group characterizes as unsustainable fuel price increases and inadequate driver compensation. The labor action, scheduled to run for two days, aims to highlight the financial strain on the country's transport sector.
Strike centers activated across Metro Manila, including areas such as Novaliches and Sucat, saw jeepney drivers and operators withdraw services to amplify their demands. The transport group is calling on the government to freeze fuel price hikes and establish what it considers a fair living wage for drivers.
The action reflects mounting frustration within the transport sector over cost pressures. Jeepney operators and drivers have increasingly voiced concerns that current fare structures cannot offset rising operational expenses, squeezing already thin profit margins in a sector vital to Metro Manila's mobility and serving millions of daily commuters.
The government has not yet responded publicly to the strike action or the sector's specific demands regarding fuel price intervention and wage standards.