Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples. Today the taxis of Italy are in revolt against the liberalisations: strikes and demonstrations chase each other throughout the country. Meanwhile, the Authority on strikes underlines that a total block of the service would be illegal.
In the capital taxi drivers have wreaked havoc at Termini station and Fiumicino airport, threatening to paralyze the rest of the city. Long waits too in the Lombard capital, especially at the Central Station and at the Linate airport.
Finding a taxi by phone is also practically impossible in Naples, where yesterday a delegation of the Consortaxi union was received in the Prefecture in Piazza Plebiscito, occupied by over 500 white cars. In Turin instead the service was suspended after the spontaneous assembly that was held yesterday at the Caselle airport, at the end of which a mobilization to the bitter end was proclaimed.
The viewfinder is naturally aimed at the project liberalization of the sector developed by the government. Prime Minister Mario Monti will illustrate the provision to his team in this morning's Council of Ministers, together with all the other measures aimed at easing the reins on the market. The decree should be passed by January 20 and for taxi drivers it will mean a significant increase in competition.
THElatest draft of the measure provides that the Transport Authority itself establishes an increase in the number of licences, also allowing the same subject to have more than one. Those who already had a license will be able to sell the new one, as compensation. There are also plans to issue part-time licenses and allow license holders greater flexibility in determining working hours. Taxis for collective use will also be favoured.
