Taxi strike continues but blocking of airport ruled out

Taxi drivers want "guarantees" in writing from the Spanish government to limit number of VTC licenses

Taxis shut down Gran Via in Barcelona on July 27 2018 (by Nazaret Romero)
Taxis shut down Gran Via in Barcelona on July 27 2018 (by Nazaret Romero) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

July 31, 2018 11:55 AM

Seven days in a row without taxis in Barcelona, as drivers continue on strike against Uber and Cabify.

Workers decided to maintain the industrial action acknowledging progress in negotiations with the Spanish government. In a gesture of what they described as "good faith", they ruled out blocking the airport and port in Barcelona. Taxi drivers had also threathened to close the border with France.

On Monday, taxi drivers met the Spanish executive, which promised to draft a decree in September regulating the number of licenses offered to car-hailing companies such as Uber or Cabify.

Taxi drivers want a ratio of 1/30, so that for every Uber or Cabify license, there are 30 taxi licenses.

The taxi drivers asked the Spanish government to put the offer "down in writing" before considering calling off the strike.

Their representatives warned that they have been very often "misled" by politicians and that they don't want to wait until September for the new regulation to be passed.