French taxi drivers launch new strike action lasting to end of June

Taxi drivers are threatening to ‘paralyse’ France during a new round of protests stretching to the end of the month, after the latest round of talks between union leaders and the government failed to resolve ongoing disputes. 

Hundreds of taxi drivers protested in Paris on Wednesday (June 11) as union leaders and the Health Minister met to discuss changes to hospital transportation fees for taxi drivers. 

Taxis converged on government buildings, and set up blockades on major roads around the capital including to the two major Paris airports.

Protests are set to last throughout the week.

Minister Yannick Neuder said a meeting has been organised for two weeks’ time on the matter, and that drivers and the government must “continue working together to find solutions that are in the national interest.”

In response, union leaders filed a new strike motion lasting up to June 30, calling on drivers to continue disruption across the country. 

The motion could be extended continually throughout the summer until union demands are met. 

“If we continue to be excluded from everything, it will lead to total paralysis of the country,” said head of the national taxi driver federation (Fédération nationale du taxi, FNDT) to FranceInfo.

“Taxi drivers are highly motivated. Even if it means dying at Bercy [The Finance Ministry headquarters and location of several recent driver protests], we will all die at Bercy,” he added.

It means disruption is likely in the capital as well as other major cities for the rest of the month. 

Airports in particular may be the focal point of protests, with drivers setting up blockades and asking police to ensure VTC (private-hire) drivers on apps such as Bolt and Uber are adhering to regulations.

Hospital transport fees are key issue

Drivers have been protesting for several weeks over planned changes to hospital transport fees – which could see taxi drivers paid only half as much as currently for taking patients to appointments – and also over ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt. 

In terms of the former, the government is looking to save €300 million per year by limiting payments to taxi drivers who take patients to hospitals. 

Proposed changes would see standard rates drop, as well as force drivers to take more passengers in single trips.

The majority of taxi drivers – and nearly all in rural areas – take patients to hospitals and it forms a key part of their monthly salary.

Drivers have also asked the government to limit the number of drivers allowed to work for ride-hail apps as trips booked via these platforms increase. 

The government announced last week it would bring in stricter anti-fraud measures, only for unions supporting VTC drivers to protest and announce their own strike action in turn.