Taxi drivers in Athens protest proposed law they say will unfairly increase competition

(11 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Athens, Greece - 11 July 2024
1. Various of rows of striking taxi drivers driving their cabs through Athens, some holding black flags
2. Close-up of taxi sign
3. Various of protesters gathered outside building
4. Close up of protester holding a paper with info about the 24-hour strike
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marios Kordas, member of Athens taxi union:
"The reason for the strike today is because of the unfair rule that the government wants to pass with the small minivans with no taxes. They want to do the same things like we do: moving (driving) the people. I mean, you move the people when you are a taxi (driver). I'm a taxi driver, I move people, I get searched by the police for my papers, the papers of the client, it will be okay. I mean, why don't you do the same thing in the minibuses? They say, okay, you can put a small paper. That small paper can be everything. Give me my client, George Michael, for example. He's not going to be George Michael, he can be someone else. He can be a criminal, who knows? It's a huge problem. And it's also against us because it's going to open all the moving (driving) to the small minibuses. It's gonna kill our business actually."
6. Various of protesters gathered, speaking with each other.
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Marios Kordas, member of Athens taxi union:
"It's a start, it's a start. If this doesn't work, we're going to continue. Another day, another day, a week, a month. Nobody wants this. But it's for our families, for our lives. We fight for our lives today."
8. Wide shot of rows of taxis.
9. Medium shot of taxi with sign reading (English) “TAXI STRIKE"
10. Mid of traffic cone in between rows of taxis
11. Mid of flags sticking out among lines of taxis
12. Various of rows of striking taxi drivers driving their cabs through Athens
STORYLINE:
Taxi drivers in the Greek capital are on strike Thursday to protest against proposed legislation that they say will unfairly increase competition from other private transport providers.
About 150 taxi drivers drove their yellow cars through the city centre in a protest that added to the summer traffic gridlock in Athens.
Their union issued a statement accusing Greece’s center-right government of offering unfair advantages to their competitors and “undermining (taxi drivers’) domestic peace and professional dignity.”
Marios Kordas, a member of Athens taxi union, said that they are striking "because of the unfair rule that the government wants to pass with the small minivans with no taxes."
"It's a huge problem. And it's also against us because it's going to open all the moving (driving) to the small minibuses. It's gonna kill our business actually," said Kordas.
Kordas added that they're going to continue striking until they get what they want.
"If this doesn't work, we're going to continue. Another day, another day, a week, a month."
"Nobody wants this. But it's for our families, for our lives. We fight for our lives today," he added.
The strike, which affects the greater Athens area but not other parts of Greece, started at 0600 a.m. local time and ends at 0600 a.m. Friday.
AP Video shot by Srdjan Nedeljkovic.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel [phone] Email: [e-mail].
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...