Photo: AFP
France is going through a rough time as millions of people are screaming their complaints. Around 1,200 taxi drivers have been protesting in Paris against competition from app-based taxi services, including Uber of course, and unlicensed cab firms.
Police had to intervene as the angry drivers blocked an eight-lane road from France’s capital city, and they were pushed back by the law enforcement officers using tear gas. More than 20 taxi drivers were arrested for violence, carrying weapons and starting a fire. According to some reports, two people were injured at Orly airport when a shuttle bus tried to force its way past a blockade of taxi drivers.
Rachid Boudjema stated that Uber drivers “vandalize professionals who are paying taxes, who respect the rules.”
Joining them were millions of teachers, health workers and air traffic controllers, who protested against work reforms, and around 5.6 million people went on strike over wages, working conditions, the cost of living and job losses. The BBC reports that one in five flights was canceled at Paris airports.
The tension between Uber and taxi drivers is not something new, and sometimes the two parties tend to get physical. In early December 2015, a cab driver from Toronto with 22 years of experience attacked an UberX vehicle with a passenger inside. The UberX driver panicked and stepped on the gas and dragged the taxi driver for about 40 feet.
Not long after this violent incident, a Canadian company launched an app called The Ride that gives the cabbies access to the same technology that Uber has. In summary, thanks to this app, users can enter a pickup location and destination, and watch on a map how far away their driver is. The only thing The Ride doesn’t have is the automatic payment of fares.
Recently, many Uber drivers joined a class-action lawsuit in an effort to be recognized as full employees entitled to benefits, so if this happens, maybe this flaming conflict between traditional and “modern” taxi drivers will be over.
Rachid Boudjema stated that Uber drivers “vandalize professionals who are paying taxes, who respect the rules.”
Joining them were millions of teachers, health workers and air traffic controllers, who protested against work reforms, and around 5.6 million people went on strike over wages, working conditions, the cost of living and job losses. The BBC reports that one in five flights was canceled at Paris airports.
The tension between Uber and taxi drivers is not something new, and sometimes the two parties tend to get physical. In early December 2015, a cab driver from Toronto with 22 years of experience attacked an UberX vehicle with a passenger inside. The UberX driver panicked and stepped on the gas and dragged the taxi driver for about 40 feet.
Not long after this violent incident, a Canadian company launched an app called The Ride that gives the cabbies access to the same technology that Uber has. In summary, thanks to this app, users can enter a pickup location and destination, and watch on a map how far away their driver is. The only thing The Ride doesn’t have is the automatic payment of fares.
Recently, many Uber drivers joined a class-action lawsuit in an effort to be recognized as full employees entitled to benefits, so if this happens, maybe this flaming conflict between traditional and “modern” taxi drivers will be over.
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