Travel across France got off to a chaotic start on Tuesday, with taxi drivers and air traffic controllers both on strike from early morning. In
ADVERTISEMENTTravel across France got off to a chaotic start on Tuesday, with taxi drivers and air traffic controllers both on strike from early morning.
In Marseille, cab drivers staged a go-slow procession through the city centre, causing long traffic jams.
They have been protesting against what they see as unfair competition from rival passenger services, such as Uber.
“They vandalise the professionals who are paying taxes, the professionals who respect the rules. Besides, you have American cowboys (meaning Uber), they come to do passenger transport, and they don’t pay anything in France,” said Rachid Boudjema, President of the taxi drivers’ syndicate in Marseille:
Similar demonstrations by taxi drivers have been held in Paris and other French cities.
Meanwhile, two unions representing air traffic controllers have called a 24-hour strike, due to end on Wednesday morning, to demand higher pay and pensions.