Week 3: Blog post 1b: Europe: Italy : Taxis go on strike across Italy over Uber benefits

Summary

According to ‘the local’, taxi drivers in Rome,Milan, Naples, Genoa, and Turin were striking between 8am and 10pm on Thursday expostulating for non-official car hire services because of over perceived perks for non-official car hire services and pressure from other taxi drivers. Government is worried about this move that may damage image of Italy.

Currently, private drivers can use much cheaper licenses for working in the city, something taxi drivers are unable to do and there is no regulated charges for private car hire drivers, compared to taxi drivers who are limited to fixed tariffs.

According to the leader of taxi union which is not taking part in the industrial action, many drivers were on strike due to "fear of retaliation" from other drivers.

Rome mayor Virginia Raggi said, ahead of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, strike and deficiency in taxi as "the first ambassadors of our capital" would spoil image of Rome.

  Italy's transport ministry ordered declaration to regulate private car hire drivers in an effort to avert the strike, but the action was not enough to ease unions.

Persuasive

I did use Uber sometimes when I was in Sydney last summer, as a customer, It was more attractive as it was much more convenient, user-friendly and reasonable in price compare to normal taxi. 
For convenience, thing I need to get Uber, was only app and even doesn't need any payment method in hand as it is automatically charged from account that I set initially.  
Also, it doesn't need any call. Just put current location and destination and that's all. It can be useful especially if there is a language barrier unless phone is available.   
Lastly, usually fare costs less than normal taxi. It might because of more loose regulation in license and fee. For example, I payed more than 35 dollars from Darling Harbor to my home which was roughly in 10 minute, but less than 30 dollars for Uber, in same distance in same time. 
There should be some defects in private car hire service including Uber as well, but I believe there should be positive change for taxi union to survive from surging of private car service.

Source: "Taxis go on strike across Italy over Uber benefits",www.thelocal.it The Local Europe AB, 23 March 2017, WEB, 27 March 2017
https://www.thelocal.it/20170323/taxis-go-on-strike-across-italy-over-uber-benefits