Spanish taxis strike protesting Uber, Cabify s unfair competition

Madrid May 30 (IANS) Taxi drivers all over Spain went on strike on Tuesday and were set to stage a large demonstration in Madrid to protest what they consider to be unfair competition by e-companies such as Uber and Cabify.

The strike s epicentre was in Madrid where taxi drivers planned to stage a show of force in the city centre with an additional 3 000 marching in Barcelona all under the same banner: Against the dismantling of the taxi public service.

In Madrid the drivers demonstration was scheduled to march from Atocha to the Spanish Parliament Efe news reported.

Greater Barcelona was without any cab service after a 24-hour stoppage was announced by the leading taxi driver trade unions.

Uber sent its users an e-mail defending its business model and apologising for any difficulties its customers may encounter during the strike.

--IANS
soni/dg