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Drivers in Spain's largest two cities say their industrial action is 'indefinite' until their regional governments reach a mutually-satisfying solution over the presence of alternative road-based transport firms, such as Uber and Cabify, on their streets.
They claim these cheaper modern methods are taking away trade and creating unfair competition, and want them to be placed under much stiffer regulation.
Protesting taxi drivers are currently filling the streets on foot, carrying placards, or in their cars, blocking major roads in both cities.
Madrid cabbies are due to meet with their regional transport minister Rosalía Gonzalo and president Ángel Garrido tomorrow (Tuesday) in an attempt to resolve the issue.
Garrido has proposed city councils dictate the length of time required to book an Uber or Cabify ride in advance, so passengers cannot just hail them on the street or call them immediately via a mobile phone App – this being one of the mainstream taxi drivers' associations' complaints, since the majority of their business comes from passing trade.
But the taxi drivers themselves want this minimum notice period for Cabify and Uber bookings to be enshrined in regional or even national law, not just through local council bye-laws which can be changed in an instant when a new mayor gets into power.
Hundreds of drivers marched from the city's central Puerta del Sol square to the Plaza de Cibeles roundabout earlier today.
In Barcelona, taxi drivers announced an indefinite strike from Friday and are taking a much harder line, claiming there are 'zero chances' of their industrial action being called off in the near future.
The regional government of Catalunya has now proposed extending its self-imposed deadline for approving legislation regulating Cabify and Uber services, which has not pleased cab drivers.
A large group of protesting cabbies attempted to gain access to the regional Parliament grounds, the Ciutadella Park, to speak to MPs directly, but the regional police blocked their path, resulting in a confrontation that led to three of their officers and a Guardia Civil member suffering minor injuries.
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