Port trucker strike Ningbo, China

The strike took place at Beilun, which is Ningbo-Zhoushan's seaport, in addition to other inland ports that make up the larger port authority. According to some estimates, it's even the largest in China in terms of capacity, surpassing Shanghai. Truck drivers participated en masse and locked down all the container yards, preventing scabs from picking up containers. They are agitating primarily for an increase in piece-rate load payments that haven't risen in 8 years, while living costs have doubled in the same period, along with oil prices.

The sequence of events, roughly:

- 200 drivers from mostly smaller companies go on strike on the 18th

- one report says strike expanded to 60% of the workforce on the 19th, but others suggest this didn't happen until the 20th; in any case, workers start to occupy the larger container yards -- there are 6 terminals, each with several dozen yards and prevent scabbing trucks from picking up containers; tacks are laid at the main entrance to the port

- on the 20th, all the forces get called in -- military police, special police, border guard, regular police -- but are not enough to handle the workers, 2 drivers are arrested and more arrested marching on the police station to demand their release

- 22nd, a 12% rate increase goes into effect, which the industry business association says was planned anyway

- 24th things are clearing up, and the 25th reports say the port is back to operating as usual

There are many images of people beaten by the police but no reports about egregious weaponry usage or really mass violence by the police.

No reports were heard of any concessions any higher than the 12% rate increase offered, which is a depressing result.

Ningbo striker demands

1) The problem of increasing load payments
2) The problem of withheld payments, protect the driver fleets' meager rights
3) Payments must be made monthly
4) The problem of improper fees charged at the container yards
5) All types of container number ANS problems
6) The problem of shipping companies having no containers in the warehouse
7) The problem of shipping companies messing up shipping dates
8) The problem of all types of billing fees and barcode fees
9) The problem of container yard hotlines
10) The problem of traffic jams at the container yards, containers should be evenly distributed among yards.

The industry is comprised of around 500 independent trucking companies in Beilun, but about 70% belong to a single industry association. Some truckers work directly with the companies as employees, but a majority are like North American independent contractor troqueros, who get their own trucks and register under (挂扣) a particular company (of course in the U.S. and Canada the classification of "independent-contractor" is a legal fiction). Some own more than one truck and hire others to drive for them, but also drive themselves, and in this way they earn more than being a company employee. According to a report by a Chinese labor scholar, pay is roughly 8000 yuan per month for an employee and 10,000 for someone with their own truck, but another earlier report said its only 5-6000 per month. Both reports suggest trucking fees per haul are roughly 200 yuan, some 3/4 of which disappear in oil costs, road tolls, and other fees during the journey, leaving a few hundred for the driver, but also this must also be used to pay for vehicle maintenance. Each driver is contracted for a particular route, similar to the way rural bus systems work. They don't get to see each other a lot, and runs tend to take up full days.

Some aftermath of the strike, Beilun freeways have been jammed for a week due to increased traffic trying to catch up with the backlog.

The ACFTU has posted a note about Beilun holding a labor relations mediation, labor law oversight, and labor dispute resolution training in Beilun on the 27th, but of course no mention of why it is being held: http://acftu.workercn.cn/30/201408/27/140827104840724.shtml

Four of China's five largest ports have seen strikes in the past 3 years--Shanghai truckers in 2011, Hong Kong and Shenzhen dockers last year, and Ningbo now. Just as quickly as this strike exploded it disappeared with almost no trace. The Ningbo government enforced a complete news blackout, making it even more difficult to follow the aftermath of the strike.

The following are photos, along with selected translations (thanks to J. in China):

8月20日，浙江省宁波市，北仑码头集卡司机罢工第三天，罢工司机增至近万人，并继续堵路拦截仍在运营车辆。中午，在警察抓捕2名示威司机后，数千司机一度与数百警察爆发激烈冲突，多辆货车、警车被砸，多名司机被殴打抓捕。目前，司机仍在与警察对峙中。因8年未涨运价，北仑码头车队于18日开始罢工。
On August 20th, in Zhejiang's city of Ningbo, the port of Beilun's container truckers' strike is in its third day. The number of drivers of strike is approaching 10,000, and they continue to block roads to stop all remaining operating vehicles. At noon, after police arrested two demonstrating drivers, intense conflict broke out between several thousand drivers and several hundred police, several trucks and police cars were smashed and many drivers were beat up and arrested. At present, drivers and police are at a stalemate. Due to shipping payments having stagnated for 8 years, Beilun's port truckers started striking on August 18th.

宁波港被车队罢工封港了。现在更新最新情况，在北仑大道，已经封车、砸车、占车，完全不给正常物流公司搞运输了
The port of Ningbo has been shut down by the driver teams' strike. According to the latest updates, on Beilun Way, vehicles are being stopped, smashed, and seized, entirely preventing regular logistics companies from operating.
Having nothing to your name is the reason to struggle
求生存，涨运费，宁波集卡车队集体罢工。运价8年没涨，我们真扛不住了，我们也要生存，我们罢工了三天，特警就开始出来打人，这年头还有天理那，天理何在 |滨海西路
Demanding survival and increased payments, Ningbo container truck drivers are on strike. Drayage payments have not increased in eight years. We can't take it any longer. We need to survive. Three days into our strike, the special police [equivalent to SWAT teams] have started to come out and beat people. Is there still heavenly justice this year? Where is the justice?
]事件升级中。保税东区，群众要求放人。。 |长江路
The situation is escalating. In the eastern bonded area, the crowd is demanding release of arrestees.宁波北仑集卡司机因运费过低不满，导致近万人罢工。罢工第三天。之前北仑各个堆场被堵，由于效果不是太明显，导致今天上午所有罢工司机在进港路（集卡车较多路段）集合，遇到还在运营的集卡车就拦下，并砸车打人。公安武警边防现场维持秩序时，与罢工司机发生冲突，几千名罢工司机拿砖头向武警砸去。
Ningbo Beilun container truck drivers' dissatisfaction with excessively low drayage payments has resulted in nearly 10,000 people on strike. It is the third day of the strike. Early, every one of Beilun's container yards were blocked. As the effects were not very apparent, this morning striking drivers gathered on the road entering the port (the segment with a relatively large amount of container trucks), blocking any container truck still operating, smashing the car and beating people. When the police, military police and border patrol attempted to maintain order at the scene, they clashed with striking drivers. Thousands of striking drivers pelted military police with bricks.宁波集装箱大罢工政府排武警特警镇压
Ningbo container mass strike, government sends military and special police to suppress
营养顾问peter妈咪
宁波口岸集卡大面积罢工 第三天了外贸还能不能做 ？宁波的货代朋友们这几天是不是都集体休息了
The port of Ningbo's container truckers are in the third day of a broad strike. How will foreign trade go on? Have all of our Ningbo freight forwarding friends been collectively resting these past few days?
三峡风
宁波北仑集装箱行业罢工，车辆被砸，数千人聚集。大批特警打人，抓人。
Ningbo Beilun's container [trucking] industry strike, cars smashed, thousands assembled. A large deployment of special police beating and arresting people.
杨光
18日，宁波口岸集卡司机罢工，随即宁波口岸陆运集装箱业务陷入停摆。目前，宁波北仑各主要集装箱堆场门口，日夜有集卡司机看守，不允许提箱。主要进港道路，有铺洒大量铁钉。集卡已挤满北仑道路两侧，北仑集运中心内集卡车辆也已经全部停满。截止目前，尚未有缓和的迹象，罢工仍在持续中……@爆新鲜
The 18th, the Port of Ningbo's container truck drivers strike, sinking the Port of Ningbo's container land transportation business into paralysis. At present, every major Ningbo Beilun container yard is guarded night and day by container truck drivers; picking up containers is prohibited. The main road into the port has been littered with iron tacks. Container trucks crowd both sides of Beilun's roads. The Beilun container transport center is already filled with container trucks. As of now, there are no signs of things easing up. The strike is ongoing...
吴成刚
汗，终于把宁波车队逼急了！（共有14张图片http://url.cn/LOd0SC ）
Ningbo's driver teams have finally been pushed over the edge!宁波集装箱车队罢工要求涨运价。看样子，事儿闹大了…
Ningbo's container truck drivers request increased drayage payments. It looks like things are getting serious...@爆新鲜 宁波北仑集卡协会。现场一片狼藉
Ningbo Beilun 's container trucking association. The scene is all chaos货两天都出不了啦！北仑在打仗啦！
Freight hasn't made it out in two days! It's war in Beilun!
船务-伞兵
罢工第三天：中午，冲突加大，特警武警维持秩序，请各位最近注意尽量不要安排出货，强行提箱驾驶员和车子都可能受到威胁，请体谅
Day three of the strike: noon, the conflict grows, special police and military police impose order, please everybody take care in this period not to arrange shipments, drivers and vehicles may both be endangered by forcibly picking up containers, please show consideration
十字秀
据有关政府人员透露，这次罢工已经惊动整个浙江省。所有的货代，工厂，甚至政府都在观望。如果搞不成功，集装箱将面临各种危机！奉劝北仑所有办理公司的外地人，一定要团结一致。力往一处使。不要偷偷拿箱单提柜子。你的侥幸心理会给这次的罢工带来巨大的损失！我们都是外地人，本地人不会尊重我们的。有血性的朋友顶起来！
坚决支持把宁波市集装箱运费涨上去！
According to revelations from a related government official, this strike has already set the entire province of Zhejiang on alert. Every freight forwarder, factory, and even the government is watching. If they don't succeed, container [truckers] will fact all kinds of crises. If I may offer a piece of advice to all the non-locals [migrants] of Beilun's handling companies, you must stick together and be united. Turn your forces in the same direction. Don't secretly pick up containers. Your gamble will result in huge losses for this strike! We are all non-locals, locals will not respect us. Friends with courage and uprightness, keep it up! Staunchly press for increases in Ningbo city's container drayage rates!
玲玲
今天，14年.8.20北仑所有开集装箱的全体罢工，原因只有一个字，钱，钱能害死人啊，，，但还是祝愿，他们能够梦想成真
Today, August 20, 2014, all of Beilun's container truckers are on strike. The reason is just one word. Money. Money can kill people... but still, I wish them success in realizing their dreams
石kun
北仑集卡罢工了 。借此机会可以好好休息几天
Beilun's container truckers are on strike. I can take this opportunity to get some good rest for a few days
LZC
宁波北仑热闹起来了 钱啊 是谁制造了钞票
Ningbo Beilun is heating up. Oh, money. Who was it who invented money?北仑的闹剧还在上演大白菜
Beilun's drama is still unfolding
政府不作为，老百姓为了自己的利益发生了冲突！
The government doesn't take action; the common people fight for their own interests!@爆新鲜 宁波北仑事件
The Ningbo Beilun incident宁波北仑。集装箱驾驶员集体罢工了
Ningbo Beilun. Container drivers are on strike
国耀足迹飒江海
大批特警赶赴北仑街头，民众呼叫声此起彼伏。
A troop of special police are hurrying towards the streets of Beilun, the people's cries sound out continuously.特警收兵，平安无事。
呼声再起，特警又去。
又来援兵
人在，平静。
大批特警在现场
The special police are retreating, safe and without incident.
The cries sound out again, the special police go again.
More reinforcements
Here, calm.
A bunch of special police are at the scene.
进港路以往繁忙的十字路口，如今空荡荡，冷清清没一个集装箱，罢工继续中…….
The usually busy crossroad going into the port is empty today, no one in sight and not one container, the strike continues...
北仑集卡司机大暴乱
huge Beilun container trucker riot
因宁波市北仑港集卡车运费太低，导致驾驶员车主无法生存，爆发大规模示威
Because Ningbo city's Beilun port's drayage payments are too low, making it impossible for drivers to survive, large demonstrations have erupted

"Brothers hold it down for me! Those of you across the street, if you don't move I'll hit you with the cannon!"

"What are you surrounding this empty space for?"

宁波保税区罢工抗议。很激烈但是新闻却没报道
Strike in the Ningbo bonded area. Very intense yet not covered by the media
老牌纲丝 （宁波）
宁波北仑集卡运费8年一分未涨，终于爆发一场司机集体游行，罢工。北仑80%集卡已停运。
Ningbo Beilun's drayage payments have not increased a wit in 8 years. Finally a collective drivers' demonstration and strike has erupted. 80% of Beilun's container trucks have stopped operation.
天煞灬菰星 （宁波）
【直播】浙江省宁波市北仑区的吧友，请你们顶下！北仑集装箱罢工，政府出公安，防暴大队，特警，公安边防出来镇压。呵呵。我们只是想涨点运费而已！
[Live coverage] Friends of Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, please keep it up! Beilun's container truckers strike and the government sends police, anti-riot squads, special police, and border patrols to suppress it. Hehe. All we want is a little increase in drayage!是宁波北仑港区保税区的集体罢工事件，警察特警你们好威武啊！ |320省道
This is the strike of the Beilun Port bonded area of Ningbo. Police and special police, you are powerful!

8月20日，宁波集卡车司机罢工第三天，不满情绪持续
August 20th, Ningbo's container truck drivers are in the third day of their strike, the feeling of dissatisfaction continues
北仑集卡司机大罢工[吃惊]
Beilun's container truck drivers mass strike
单潇sx
要求涨运价罢工三天，愈演愈烈…… |辽河路
Third day of striking for an increase in drayage, getting more and more intense
那年夏的记忆
宁波北仑集卡罢工，特警打人。。。#宁波集卡车罢工# |江南路
Ningbo Beilun's container truckers are on strike, special police are beating people
父子情似海
北仑集装箱罢工
行走在货代路上
这次车队罢工挺严重！早上协会发的声明对于车队那边来说完全没用！还是尽量通知客户延期出货
This drivers' strike is pretty serious! The statement released by the association this morning was completely useless for the drivers' side of things! Better just to as far as possible notify customers to extend their shipment dates
吧
假装潜水呀
宁波港口罢工中，我的货怎么办呀，都没办法装柜了，都要产生罚金了，上天保佑罢工快点结束吧，祝好运[委屈]
In the middle of the Ningbo port strike, what to do about my goods, none of it can be shipped, it'll all generate fees, heaven grant this strike ends quickly, best of luck
略懂略懂___
宁波市北仑去集卡车大罢工游行！ |东河塘路
馨馨杜心
宁波港作为中国大陆重点开发建设的四大国际深水中转港之一，最近确因为陆运运价的事情，罢工第三天了现在连特警都要打人了有哪位媒体或者政府的好心人，帮帮我们这些老百姓 |329国道
The port of Ningbo, one of the four major international deep water transit ports targeted for development on the Chinese mainland, is in its third day of strikes because of land transport drayage prices. Now the special police are even beating people. What kind-hearted media or government person will help us common people

怎么了？！怎么了？！集装箱司机罢工？！ |北仑保税东区
What?! What?! Container truck drivers on strike?!
最爱牛宝皓皓
北仑集装箱罢工 |衢山大道
北仑区大量物流公司罢工，数百人聚集街头，维持秩序的特警扣留两人后，特警防暴车被砸，现大量特警正在赶往现场。 |淮河路
麦田守望-丹
#宁波北仑港区罢工事件# 持续了一天的罢工，听说只有港区内部车正在运作，现场撒三角钉，仍砸车窗。。。反应很强烈。
The strike has gone on for a day. I hear only vehicles inside the port are operating. Tacks are scattered across the area, car windows are broken... the response is intense
.车队罢工要选择在国庆前一周效果会更好
If the drivers had chosen the week before National Day [Oct 1] to strike, the effects would be even better
大家好我是五龙潭继承者良辰美景
好像很严重，来自光头老道的图
群体性事件，据说是因为八年没长工资引起的，太疯狂！用集装箱堵路还在车厢上用石头扔警察，太过了，严重扰乱秩序，现在已封路！@-捕快二宝- @活到2012的白菜 会刑事拘留吗？
Mass incident, they say it's because wages have not gone up in 8 years, too crazy! Using containers to block roads and throwing rocks at police from on top of the containers, that's too much, a serious disturbance of order, the roads have already been closed! Will people be detained?
孟嬜
宁波保税东区场面越来越壮观，这有上万人，帅哥特警手拉手。小美女都知道鼓掌，尖叫。（一万多人，特警就有几百人）查看视频：|微视
The scene at Ningbo's eastern bonded area is growing more and more spectacular. There are more than 10,000 people here, cute-boy special police hand-in-hand. All the pretty girls know to clap and scream. (10,000+ people, only a few hundred special police), check out the video
振翅的知了
宁波集装箱车队因为生存问题自发罢工却遭地方政府无故阻挠、出动大批警力，随便抓人，现场情绪激奋，随时可能引发流血冲突！为嘛只有警察镇压，没有智能部门出面解决问题，非要出人命才有人愿意出来呢？@CCTV焦点访谈 @新浪新闻 @公安部打四黑除四害 @高晓松|明州西路
FeiFeiIDC88
闹到最后还得解决 |微博视
In the end it still has to be resolved
口袋de温度
北仑集卡罢工，场面失控。 |兴业大道
Beilun's container truck strike, control lost at the scene
幽灵偶最乖
事态越来越严重了！大家理性！ |宁波保税区大厦
The situation is getting more and more serious! Everyone be rational!
-万-象-
宁波集卡罢工事件有升级的迹象！
小芬_V
北仑风云———-战争片。宁波车队集体罢工，跟警察都杠上了，情况比前两天更严重了！
The clouds over Beilun---war movie. Ningbo drivers strike, it's already fought with police, the situation is even more intense than the last two days!
自由寂寞元素
宁波北仑集装箱罢工特警好多 |珠江路
孟嬜
为了拍壮观的场景这哥们安全都不管了
FENGBIN2012之歌
北仑集装箱为生存罢工，招武力镇压，公道自在民心。 |黄海路
Beilun container truckers strike to survive, they call in martial force to suppress. Justice is in the people's hearts.
伶_Rin
集卡车司机集体罢工，堵着码头堆场不给提箱，要求涨运费。本周货代空的长蘑菇，下周回来又要下地狱了 [淚]
Container truck drivers are on strike, they've blocked the container yards and won't let people pick up containers, are demanding increased drayage. This weeks' goods are growing fungus, next week when I come back I'll have to face hell

94何必问北仑集装箱集体罢工，在进港路上堵截提箱的车子！谁开工砸谁的车！不准私自干活！！！难道新闻不报吗？还是会和谐 @NBTV看看看 @西门町吃在宁波
心有所属happy
北仑集装箱车队全体罢工，要求涨运费，运费8年未涨，目前相关部门还未介入，罢工还在持续。@北仑海事 @西门町吃在宁波 @宁波同城会 @宁波日报 @人民日报 @宁波民生e点通 @高速交警宁波支队 @看宁波 @宁波海事局 @新浪宁波 @宁波市交通委
王呀玩呀王这又怎么提得出柜子呢······#北仑码头罢工#
橡皮的实验室宁波北仑港，集卡车队罢工，今日高潮。现在，流氓群集，谁敢去港区提箱，轻者箱单被抢，重者车辆被砸司机被打。这是罢工吗？罢工导致出口受阻，全球皆知，但是微博不知，宁波晚报睡觉日报休假，宁波发布在发布北仑旅游宁波美食，世道继续太平，真好！
Ningbo's Beilun Port, container truck drivers are on strike. Today is high tide. Currently the rogue masses are assembled, whoever dares to pick up containers in the port area if they're lucky will have their container snatched, if they're not will have their car smashed and be beaten. This is a strike? A strike that obstructs exports, the whole world knows, but weibo [Chinese social media] doesn't know, Ningbo nightly is sleeping and the Daily is on vacation, Ningbo is publishsing Beilun vacations and Ningbo good eats, the world goes on peacefully, how wonderful!
雁南莉张宁波车队大范围罢工，这是想闹哪样，警察出动貌似也无济于事啊
看海盐 #微分享#宁波北仑集装箱集体罢工
大头 宁波、北仑集体事件
苦乐 浙江省宁波市北仑区集卡车全部罢工，涨运费，为了生存。
顺0807这是单纯的罢工吗？我看是没有这么简单，这些行为过激了吧，义乌所有装柜点空荡荡，现在空意味着什么，接下来的几个礼拜忙的死去活来，是喜还是悲。。。 h

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8月18日，浙江省宁波市，因8年未涨运价，北仑码头车队数百集卡司机发起罢工，要求涨运价。至19日，宁波60%的集卡加入，罢工车辆增至数千，北仑各堆场入口被堵，主要进港道路被铺上铁钉，多辆未参加罢工的车辆被砸，提箱作业全面瘫痪，大批警察戒备。
On August 18th, in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, because drayage rates have not gone up in 8 years, several hundred Beilun port drivers went on strike demanding increased drayage rates. By the 19th, 60% of Ningbo's container truck drivers had joined, striking trucks reached several thousand, all of Beilun's container yard entrances were blocked, the main entrance to the port was covered with tacks, several vehicles that had not joined the strike were smashed and container pick-up was completely paralyzed. A large deployment of police was on the alert.