Athens, November 26 – Taxi drivers throughout Greece are set to embark on a 48-hour nationwide strike on Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3. The Panhellenic Taxi Federation (POEIATA) announced the industrial action, citing a lack of progress in negotiations with relevant ministries, particularly the Ministry of Transport, regarding long-standing issues.
Taxi Sector at its Limit, Federation Declares
POEIATA’s announcement highlighted the critical state of the taxi industry, stating that “the taxi sector has reached its limits!” The federation emphasized that all avenues for dialogue with the ministries had been exhausted without any solutions being provided for the daily challenges and survival of its members.
Key demands, described as fundamental to the sustainability and daily operations of the sector, have remained unresolved despite the passage of several bills. The federation noted that their concerns were met only with requests for more time and patience.
Unanimous Decision for Strike Action
The Administrative Board of the Federation convened on Monday, November 24, and unanimously decided to declare a 48-hour warning strike across the country on December 2 and 3. This will be accompanied by demonstrations throughout Greece.
In addition to the strike, POEIATA announced that procedures would commence for convening a Sectoral Council to make further decisions and plan continuous mobilization efforts.
Key Demands of the Taxi Drivers
The Administrative Board’s demands are comprehensive and address various aspects of the taxi industry’s operation and financial viability. These include:
- Extension of the Electrification Obligation: A request to extend the deadline for the electrification obligation for taxis until 2035.
- Combating Unfair Competition: Addressing unfair competition caused by multinational ride-hailing applications.
- Action Against Illegal Work: Immediate decisions to crack down on the illegal appropriation of work in the sector by private hire vehicles (E.I.X.).
- Increase in Time-Based Charges and Minimum Fare: An increase in time-based charges and the minimum fare across the entire country.
- Renegotiation of Taxi Access to Special Lanes: Re-negotiation of the terms under which loaded taxis can use special traffic lanes.
- Implementation of Outstanding Issues: Full implementation of all outstanding issues from the fundraising bill.
- Tariff Adjustment: A general adjustment of taxi tariffs.
- Fair Tax Treatment: Demands for a fairer tax treatment for taxi drivers.
The federation also stated that it anticipates a meeting with the Ministry, where the Presidium, along with the heads of the factions, will participate. POEIATA warned that if no answers are provided during this meeting, the sector will “unanimously and dynamically” make its decisions regarding further action.
Potential Impact on Public Transport
The impending strike is expected to significantly impact public transportation services across Greece, particularly in major urban centers like Athens. Commuters and travelers relying on taxis will need to seek alternative modes of transport during the 48-hour period.
The strike highlights the ongoing tensions between taxi drivers and the government over regulatory issues, competition from new technologies, and economic pressures. The outcome of the upcoming negotiations and the potential for prolonged industrial action remain uncertain, with significant implications for both the taxi industry and the public.
