Taxi drivers in Amsterdam will demonstrate against rates and Uber policies on Wednesday. Hundreds of drivers filed a petition with Uber headquarters last week, but the digital taxi platform has not responded

“The water is on our lips. In recent years, the city has been inundated with Ubers who have to transport passengers at predatory prices. We demand a brake on the growth of new drivers. In addition, Uber will have to introduce minimum fares, ”said one of the organizers and taxi operator Stef Key (39).

According to Key, all taxi drivers support the protest. In addition to drivers who drive for Uber themselves, several organizations of Amsterdam street taxis (TTOs) endorse the action.

“The pricing policy and oversupply have caused many Amsterdam taxi drivers to run into problems. The rates that Uber uses are below our cost. I hear from drivers with daily turnover of less than forty euros for ten hours of work. It's a race to the bottom. This is slavery, ”said Key.

According to Key, the official Amsterdam street taxis have been hit twice: 

“On the one hand, their turnover is declining because many customers are switching to the cheaper Uber. On the other hand, many Uber drivers try to survive financially by illegally serving the street market in Amsterdam with self-mounted small roof lights. ”

De organization hopes that the city council will finally wake up. Key thinks that they have so far given Uber free rein without regard for the interests of the taxi drivers.

The drivers will gather at the NDSM site in Amsterdam on Wednesday at 14.30:7 PM where, among other things, DENK councilor Numan Yilmaz will address the participants. Afterwards, the demonstrators head to the Uber headquarters on Mr. Treublaan XNUMX to lay down their demands.

“We have many commitments to participate in the action from outside Amsterdam. Traffic nuisance in and around Amsterdam must be taken into account, ”says Key.

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