Taxi unions across France have declared a strike and closed main streets in Paris in protest against apps like Uber!
France is not the first country to protest the service. Last week there was a big protest in Budapest! Read the relevant SecNews article here:
https://www.secnews.gr/100480/%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%B3%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%AF-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%8D%CE%BD-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-uber-%CE%B3%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CE%AF%CE%B4/btn-medium” variation=”btn-danger”]Taxi drivers strike for Uber! Will the same happen with Taxibeat?
Thousands of taxi drivers are expected to take part in demonstrations across Paris today, disrupting traffic to and from the French capital's two major airports. Protesters have already burned tires on a major thoroughfare in western Paris and police have used tear gas to disperse the drivers. Two drivers have been injured and 20 arrests have been made so far!
Unions are calling for an end to services like Uber. CGT Taxis, one of the unions organizing today's demonstration, said its revenue had fallen by 40% since the apps entered the market. Others have estimated losses of between 20% and 30%.
The demonstrations coincide with a series of other strikes in France by air traffic controllers, civil servants and teachers. And about a year ago, French taxi unions held widespread protests across the country against the low-cost service UberPop, which connects passengers with non-professional drivers. The strikes took place in January and June of last year and ended in violence after taxi drivers set cars on fire and clashed with Uber drivers. Uber suspended UberPop after the June incidents and was officially banned by a court order in September.
But the company has continued to offer its traditional services, such as UberX in France. Taxi companies say they too are not following the rules on who can transport passengers for money.
For its part, the large company said that these protests are happening because drivers are afraid of competition and are trying to scare people who want to drive with Uber. It also said that it helps thousands of people go through the process of obtaining an official taxi driver's license, but the protests are hindering these efforts as well.
