Hundreds of public transport workers started Saturday an open strike in Egypt's Alexandria, in protest at the lack of a response to their demands that the national minimum wage be applied to them, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

The strike, which is spearheaded by bus and tram drivers and workers, caused major traffic jams on the streets of Egypt's second largest cities.

The workers tabled their demands last week, with no response forthcoming from the Public Transport Authority.

They are also striking because workers who retired this year didn't receive their end of service indemnity, said Mahmoud Abu El-Fadl, one of the strikers.

A similar strike took place in late February by Greater Cairo public transport workers, demanding higher wages and better buses.

All 24 garages in Greater Cairo were on strike, taking a toll on daily revenues worth some LE800,000 ($115,000) for the Public Transport Authority, Al-Ahram Arabic reported

The city’s authorities provided 1,200 minibuses to counteract the strike until the workers ended their strike.

The Greater Cairo strike ended on government promises to meet their financial demands, topped by application of the national minimum wage.

Some 42,000 workers in the public transport sector receive between LE600 ($86) and LE1400 ($200) in monthly wages.