When they reach Paris, first impression is its in chaos. This is the scene at Porte De Maillot
Tensions are running very high as an Uber car is overturned. The protestors are now stopping colleagues from working. The CRS have turned up and it looks like CS gas is imminent.
The biggest problem:
The unions say suspend the PH apps, but the drivers say STOP the apps. The older more seasoned drivers want to leave it to the unions, but the younger drivers are not listening to Unions anymore. They want action now...sound familiar?
Lots of gesticulating and raising of voices, these guys are livid, two cars overturned now. Burning tyres, making it hot.
They are trying to come up with a feasible plan. I've just done an interview with RTL, and one with WSJ....they're surprised to see London cabbies mixing it up with the Parisian cabbies!!
It's getting very tense now, cabbies have blocked most of the streets. We've been informed they intend to stay here until 10pm or until the PM receives them, if not, they will be back at 5am tomorrow.
Currently I'm behind the line of riot police, hope the lads don't start throwing stuff again or they'll hit my cab!
Believe me these drivers are frustrated. They pay €250k for plate then another €30k for a car.
The government licence uber for free!
Uber then undercut them and steal their work. They've been very patient for a year, now they say #enoughIsEnough!!!
Midday now and Paris is littered with upturned cars, burnt out ones on motorway.
Where I am, cabbies are out of their cars, with occasional fights with CRS. Some running battles, plain clothes cops with retractable coshes, CS gas and snatch squads. This is turning very ugly.
For more up to date reports from the scene, follow
@w14taxi and @Vitocab on Twitter.
5 comments:
Long tradition in France, we won't of course and the old bill will scare us off just like the Olympic Hyde Park Corner demo that never was
Well done lads ! What a marvellous show of International Unity ! It wont go unnoticed by our French colleagues either.
This is what you call militancy ! The French Fisherman are the same too and just wont stand being turned over.
Good luck to our two representatives and stay safe out there, chaps.
Its stuff like this that make me feel proud to be a London Cabby.
No doubt there will be colleagues of ours that disagree with this over the top militant stand and indeed encouragement from our London Trade. But from me personally, thanks a million lads. If we were the same over here, TFL would shit themselves !
Semtex.
the same thing in france needs to hapen here no more 2hour demos i have said this before lock your cabs and walk.all day .
Aren't TFL lucky that our protests are peaceful, yet still they seek to harass and send in the heavies. You are right Semtex, would they send out their bus inspectors to write down our numbers otherwise. Probably not.
AndyCabb
They are already shitting themselves! All we need now is for the GLA to actually do something, like:
Damanding the Taxi Age Limit be scrapped immediately as there is evidence that it was a sham right from the get go.
Demanding satellite offices, illegal mini cab ranks that operate under the corrupt STaN agenda be closed immediately.
Damand that Ubers licence to operate be revoked as the do not conform to legislation.
As long as the GLA fail to make demands Johnson and band of incompetents get away with it !!!
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