The unions oppose the government’s plan to liberalize the public transport sector by allowing Uber in
Hundreds of taxi drivers have taken to the streets in Rome to protest against the government’s plan to liberalize the public transport sector by integrating ride-sharing operators into it.
In the morning, several union representatives were seen chained together in front of the Chigi Palace – the official residence of the prime minister – for the second day in a row. They were quoted in local media on Tuesday as having said: “We chained ourselves today to be free tomorrow.”
Videos being posted on social media show firecrackers and smoke bomb explosions in the capital’s central square, Piazza Venezia.
Reports also indicate that there have been occasional clashes among police officers deployed in large numbers to stop demonstrators from entering the government building.
Bombs are being hurled at Mario Draghi as the taxi driver protest continues in Rome. Rome is also the destination for taxi drivers coming from Turin and Genoa in Northern Italy, as well as those who came from Milan, Turin and Genoa. It is no longer possible to be patient with the Italians. pic.twitter.com/AmdjouRuGY
— RadioGenova (@RadioGenova) July 13, 2022
While some of the slogans and posters seen at the demonstration target the lawmakers and the prime minister, Mario Draghi, most of them take aim at the car service giant Uber, which – along with other large players— taxi drivers believe will get a boost from the new legislation, while the small carriers will suffer. Uber is a taxi service that exists in Italy, but it only operates in the major cities and on a very limited basis. It has been looking to grow its operations since collaborating with IT Taxi (the largest Italian taxi dispatcher), in order to incorporate its app.
While the Competition Bill is under discussion, Article 10 aims to foster competition, promote technological platforms, and most importantly, de-egregate the market. Teresa Bellanova the Deputy Minister of Sustainable Infrastructures and Mobility explained that while the government doesn’t want to put taxi drivers in trouble, it is only trying to provide the best service possible. “need for income”All employees while providing security “efficient mobility”For its residents.
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Uber secret deals exposed – what we know so far
During this time, taxi drivers have been protesting Article 10 for several weeks. This week’s protest, however, unlike the others, started spontaneously on Tuesday, ignited by the recent publication of Uber Files – leaked documents from the tech company exposing some of its controversial tactics. The documents also revealed that Uber executives viewed themselves as “uber men”. “pirates”With the help of high-profile friends, we took over transportation.
Uber Files, claimed the unions “set fire to the Italian squares”They also claimed that the government they had elected was not theirs. “deaf and blind”If it was determined to keep its market liberalization plans going.
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