Taxi Driver Online

200km of jams in taxi protest



NEARLY 200km of traffic jams blocked rush-hour traffic in Paris this morning as several hundred taxi drivers mounted a go-slow protest from Charles-de-Gaulle Airport into the centre of the capital.

They were protesting about “unfair competition” from minicabs called VTCs (voitures de tourisme avec chauffeurs) which they say are stealing their customers and jobs, and also about the rise in VAT from 7% to 10%.

Around two thousand taxis were expected to take part in the protest which was being mirrored in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Montpellier.

The protest started at 6.00 when dozens of taxis started to arrive at the airport taxi ranks at Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly but only the taxis from Roissy set off en masse around 8.00, with drivers at Orly preferring to blockade the airport.

Traffic agency Bison Futé said at 9.00 that there was just short of 200km of jams and the Péripherique was at a complete standstill between Saint-Cloud, Porte Maillot and La Villette.

The taxis were heading for Les Invalides in the centre of Paris to hold a mass demonstration to highlight their demands.

Drivers say that they can pay up to €230,000 for a licence plus around €2,500 to fit out the vehicle whereas VTC drivers just have to sign up with French tourism agency Atout France and pay a €160 fee. VTC drivers also do not have the same mass of regulation as taxis and the protesting drivers say that many, such as the Google-backed American company Uber, are owned by multinationals which destroy French jobs.

Passengers cannot hail VTCs in the street and must phone for a hire – with the government enforcing a 15-minute delay between the call and the pick-up in an effort to appease the taxi lobby – although the taxis say this is widely ignored.

The competition watchdog Autorité de la Concurrence has attacked the 15-minute delay, saying there are not enough taxis on the street to cope with demand and the VTCs fulfill a vital role, especially in Paris. There are 50,000 taxis in France and 10,000 VTCs.

- See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/Taxi-VTC ... l6OOK.dpuf

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

GOOD FOR THEM................GREAT TO SEE ORGANISED RUCKS.................SO DIFFERENT FROM THEIR UK COUNTERPARTS.............THE CHAMPIONS OF SERVILITY

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

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You got that right. Here they'd be looking for ways to [edited by admin] each other over, instead of sticking together for their collective interest.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

It would be great to see something like that happening here, but that would mean you lot growing a brain and a backbone, and I can't see that happening anytime soon.

Imagine giving up the begging bowl mentality and doffing your cap to all in sundry, it wouldn't last five minutes, and you would be groveling on your hands and knees.

It's actually quite embarrassing to be classed as Scottish, when you see solidarity like that from just across the channel by a bunch of Frogs.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

SKULL I would have the Scots and Micks well front of the English and ten million light years in front of the taffies in the likelihood of growing a back bone.

The frogs as you put it are way in front of the Uk in this sort of activity its called BOTTLE

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I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

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TT writes:



I would actually put the Micks out in front but not by a long way, when it comes to the UK.

The advantage the Frogs have is that France is a republic born of revolt. We still have a Monarchy and an aristocracy that are all in bed with the bankers and multinational companies.

The school system in this country is also designed to stifle upward mobility. You only have to look around at the taxi trade, if you want to see people who are completely helpless, when it comes to representing their own interests. They wouldn't know where to start.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

The above comments hit the nail squarely on the head.

What near a 100% unified approach can achieve instead of listening the usual [edited by admin] that licensing authorities up and down the UK appease us with.

The trouble is, to have a unified approach you need to be able to see the bigger picture and above all, develop an intelligent consensus of what represents your interests as a whole, and then be prepared to protect these interests, no matter what.

Where do you start? The taxi ranks are full of monkeys, so much so, they are prepared to vote in committees which line their own pockets? And then they wander around the streets saying, "why me. Things will never change. It's always been this way."

Honestly, these guys are dummies that just roll over to any demand that is made of them. In fact, it's like servility is genetically programmed into their makeup.

It's really quite sad.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

The difference is the French stick together,the police are in unions that probally support their actions.Could you imagine that here

The French stick together because they know the only way to save jobs, and to improve pay and conditions is to strike, blockade and picket their way to the negotiation table - it's that simple.

This isn't rocket science. You stick together no matter what, even if this means you are not in agreement with the majority decision to withdraw your Labour in the first place - solidarity, as they say. The minute you break ranks, that's you fu*ked and you embark on the slippery slope to where you are now.

The French, understand the above and when pushed take their fight into the streets.

Oh and if any of your brothers happen to side with the employers or management or whoever is responsible, they are out on their ars*you refuse to work with them, set fire to their taxis, etc.

If you are not one of us . ..

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Never happen here though.
Too many guys like wannabee who'd see a strike as an opportunity to fill their boots.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Well, you do whatever is necessary to make their lives misery. Protecting your livelihood is not a game, and if they can't see it, then make sure they no longer have a job.

I'd like to see someone take it upon themselves to go against those striking and protesting in France? No more taxi.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I agree with all of the above and note the absence of our regular SCABS from this debate ie Wanna and Nidge who openly boast of their scabbing activities, Gus your it "will never happen here " is somewhat defeatist ?? surely we need to attempt to organise solidarity?

GBC cant believe your the same person from 5 years ago congratulations you appear to have seen the light

Skull you would put the Micks out front so would i my mob originated from County Mayo and ive spent 52 years fighting this fight its in the blood

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I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

couldn't agree more with the general opinion of this. If the taxi trade stuck together instead of shafting each other they could command anything they wanted