Taxi driver protests continue in south and paris: weekend disruption expected

MAJOR DEMONSTRATIONS PLANNED IN PRIME MINISTER’S HOMETOWN OF PAU Protests by taxi drivers are poised to continue into the weekend in several cities including Paris and Pau after meetings

this week between unions and the government failed to resolve disputes over hospital transport fees. A major demonstration is planned in Pau on Saturday. Pau – in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques –

is a focal point for protests as it is the home of prime minister François Bayrou, and alongside Paris and Marseille has seen the brunt of action.  Around 100 taxis are already maintaining

demonstrations in the city, with a further 100 or more set to arrive over the course of today. It comes after drivers blocked roads in Biarritz and other areas of the south-west in recent

days. Drivers have been engaging in protests for several weeks over planned changes to hospital transport fees – which could see income for taxi drivers who take patients to appointments

halved – as well as the presence of ride-hailing applications such as Uber and Bolt.  ‘PERHAPS JUST THE BEGINNING’ OF STRIKE ACTION The protests look set to continue. “We are continuing to

take action in order to raise awareness. Perhaps this is just the beginning,” said president of the taxi driver’s union in the Pyrénées-Atlantique department Jean-Marie Tourré to AFP (quoted

in Le Figaro).  “Until we have had further meetings and made further progress, there will definitely be more action,” he added.  In Paris, action is mainly concentrated near the offices of

the Ministry of Transport around Boulevard Raspail.  “The taxis [outside] are taking turns, it's a revolving door,” one driver told AFP.  “There were more than 100 [protestors on

Thursday]. We will continue in the coming days,” he added.  STOPPING RIDE-HAILING DRIVERS  Protesting techniques mostly consist of ‘snail operations’ – driving extremely slowly and blocking

major roads – or checkpoints outside areas frequented by drivers of ride-hailing vehicles.  Protesting drivers outside of the Pau airport set up a checkpoint yesterday.  “We let people

through, but for private hire vehicles [drivers working on apps such as Uber or Bolt], we asked the police to check that everything was in order. There were several fines [for drivers not

correctly following regulations],” Mr Tourré added.  A private hire vehicle driver rammed protesting taxi drivers at a blockade in Marseille during protests last week, injuring several taxi

drivers.