They called it "the mother of all battles“. IN taxi drivers unions they present with epic tones what for them is the day of truth. Arrived at seventh day of mobilization, today they will finally be received at Palazzo Chigi. A delegation will be in charge of submitting to the Government the alternative proposal to reform the sector, elaborated by the same category. The text was voted on yesterday evening by the 23 trade unions in the arena of the Circus Maximus, elected headquarters of the protest, and comes to the attention of the Executive in the Cesarini area: there are just 24 hours left, then the Council of Ministers will give the go-ahead to the decree on liberalization so hated by the drivers of white cars.
Meanwhile, they continue throughout Italy traffic problems. The yellow striped car parks are still deserted almost everywhere, causing new inconvenience especially in the airports and railway stations of the major centres. In many cases, even emergency trips (for example to hospitals) are not guaranteed. Taxis are a public service and as such any strike must be scheduled at least 15 days in advance. A problem that the taxi drivers have solved by not officially calling the strike and claiming to be "in assembly".
For all these reasons, the great protest that in their intentions should have saved them from the opening of the market risks turning into a sensational own goal. There are the extremes for the precept, i.e. the extraordinary administrative measure with which the authorities can put an end to a strike. The questore of Rome, Francesco Tagliente, has already said that he is ready to precept taxi drivers if they refuse to go back to work.
Meanwhile, all that remains for citizens is to try to use their mobile phones to look for a taxi in the haystack. Most of the time he replies a discus: "We apologize for any inconvenience".
