Commuters faced heavy tailbacks yesterday during a blockade by Tsing Ma Bridge workers protesting over a change to their fixed 13th-month pay and staff lay-offs.
Ten off-duty workers used a tow truck, three cars and road cones to block the West Tsing Yi entrance of Cheung Tsing Tunnel at 7.18am.
The workers say they took the action after their employer sacked 11 colleagues who refused to sign new contracts replacing their fixed 13th-month pay with a flexible bonus.
The blockade lasted 18 minutes, forcing motorists to use the narrow road shoulder to enter the tunnel. The hold-up caused long tailbacks on Tsing Ma Bridge and Ting Kau Bridge.
Blockade organiser Cheuk Wo-sin said: 'The company is already making a profit but still wants to take money out of the pockets of workers in order to help itself become more profitable. We feel it is unfair because our workers have been giving all they have at work every day.'
Other workers later joined them outside the control area's administration building where they met company representatives for five minutes before walking out of the talks, accusing the management of being insincere.
Several protesters then ran across the toll plaza and tried to block the toll lanes. The group also staged a slow-drive as some on-duty staff abandoned their work and joined the protest.