Chinese leaders have become increasingly sensitive to public unrest and labour disputes as the frequency of incidents grows. So sensitive in fact, that China’s latest strike – by Beijing’s taxi drivers – barely happened at all.

The taxi drivers’ litany of complaints is long: petrol prices in China are at record highs, eroding profits. Drivers usually work 12 hour shifts, seven days a week, and often commute an hour or two each way to pick up their cab. Meanwhile taxi fares have barely changed to keep pace with China’s steady inflation.

This weekend, Beijing’s taxi drivers decided they had had enough. On Sunday afternoon, several taxi drivers told the FT they had received text messages about a strike on Monday and Tuesday and were considering participating.