Taxi strike enters fourth day over disputed transport bill

[InTime News]

Taxi drivers successful Athens extended their strike into a 4th time Friday successful protestation of a contentious Transport Ministry measure under statement successful Parliament, which they accidental threatens their livelihoods.

A pedestrian rally was scheduled for 10.30 a.m. extracurricular the offices of the SATA, the Attica Taxi Drivers’ Union.

At the halfway of the quality is Article 52, which sets retired rules governing privately owned rider vehicles with nonrecreational drivers – commonly referred to arsenic backstage prosecute vehicles. Taxi operators reason the proviso efficaciously puts such vehicles connected adjacent footing with licensed taxis, opening the doorway to accrued competition.

Drivers are besides objecting to provisions linked to a 2021 instrumentality mandating a gradual transition to electrical taxis successful Athens and Thessaloniki. Although the existent measure affects lone a small fraction of the country’s astir 29,000 taxi owners this year and includes exemptions, manufacture representatives person described the measurement arsenic a “forced” displacement and accidental they program to situation it earlier the Council of State if it is passed.

The measure besides introduces further grounds for revoking taxi licenses, including convictions for unsafe driving oregon obstructing transport – measures the federation has criticized arsenic punitive.