Latest news with #FNDT
Local France
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
Latest: French farmer tractor protests restart, while taxi drivers target airports
Monday sees the convergence of two nationwide protests in France, both targeting roads. Taxi drivers have decided to extend last week's protests - which are about changes to the fare structure for medical transport - meanwhile farming unions have called for a restart of the protests over a planned new agricultural law. They are also angry that aid offered to them last year has still not materialised. Both groups are using the same method - using their vehicles to create blockades or rolling roadblocks (known as opération escargot ) to cause severe traffic disruption. Last week action from taxi drivers caused tailbacks of 450km in the Paris region. Farmers Farmers will once again be mounting tractor convoys, focusing on autoroutes and other main roads for go-slow actions. Advertisement Monday will see an especially large turnout in the greater Paris region, with the tractors gradually converging on the French parliament in order to stage a protest. ON Monday morning severe disruption was reported on multiple autoroutes in the greater Paris region, including the RN118, RN12, RN14 and RN20. In other parts of France, protests are planned at the préfecture - unions in Sarthe, Aisne, Ardennes and Marne have confirmed protest plans, others are likely to follow. It is therefore likely that there will be severe traffic disruption and road closures in the vicinity of the préfecture in multiple towns. Taxi drivers Last week's protests were initially planned to end on Friday - that was later extended until Sunday and then into this week, after an unsatisfactory meeting over the weekend with prime minister François Bayrou. Drivers unions say that this week their blockades will be focused on specific targets - namely Paris' two airports and the Roland Garros tennis ground, where the French Open tournament is currently underway. "From Monday, in the absence of progress, Paris international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, will be blocked by taxis, and we will also take care of Roland Garros," Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), told France Info radio. Alternatives These protests are heavily targeted at the road network - so drivers should leave extra time for journeys, especially in the Paris region, and be prepared for delays and traffic jams. They do not affect public transport, which will run as normal - both of Paris' airports and the Roland Garros ground are accessible via public transport - the airports are connected to the city via RER B while Orly is also on Metro line 14 and the T7 tram. Roland Garros is on Metro lines 9 or 10. Advertisement Although not all taxi drivers are joining the protests it will be likely harder to get a taxi. However TVC vehicles such as Uber, Bolt or Heetch are not involved in the protests - although they practice surge pricing so rides may be more expensive than usual.
MTV Lebanon
25-05-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
French PM to reconsider reform in standoff with taxi drivers
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Saturday he would re-examine a proposed reform after taxi drivers threatened to step up protest actions, including paralysing access to Paris airports and the Roland Garros tennis tournament. French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country in an increasingly acrimonious standoff with the government about payments for transporting patients, which for many cab drivers form a major part of their businesses. "We'll be working on the details of the decisions, measures and directions that need to be taken over the coming weeks," Bayrou told journalists after meeting with taxi federations. "They have ideas for making savings," he added. Earlier Saturday, cab drivers had threatened further blockades, notably of Paris airports and of Sunday's first round of Roland Garros. In the afternoon, some 1,200 cabs were parked on a boulevard near the transport ministry's offices in Paris. Their chief demand is the scrapping of new rules coming into force in October on the transportation of patients to harmonise prices nationwide, which the taxi drivers say will severely erode their income. "We are calling for the immediate withdrawal of this agreement and for a return to the negotiating table," Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), told France Info radio Saturday morning. Grievances against ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt have also resurfaced, with taxi drivers seeing them as a poorly regulated threat to their livelihood.
Local France
25-05-2025
- Business
- Local France
French PM to re-examine reform in standoff with taxi drivers
French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country in an increasingly acrimonious standoff with the government about payments for transporting patients, which for many cab drivers form a major part of their businesses. "We'll be working on the details of the decisions, measures and directions that need to be taken over the coming weeks," Bayrou told journalists after meeting with taxi federations. "They have ideas for making savings," he added. Earlier Saturday, cab drivers had threatened further blockades, notably of Paris airports and of Sunday's first round of Roland Garros. In the afternoon, some 1,200 cabs were parked on a boulevard near the transport ministry's offices in Paris. Their chief demand is the scrapping of new rules coming into force in October on the transportation of patients to harmonise prices nationwide, which the taxi drivers say will severely erode their income. Advertisement "We are calling for the immediate withdrawal of this agreement and for a return to the negotiating table," Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), told France Info radio Saturday morning. Grievances against ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt have also resurfaced, with taxi drivers seeing them as a poorly regulated threat to their livelihood.
France 24
24-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
French PM to reconsider reform in standoff with taxi drivers
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Saturday he would re-examine a proposed reform after taxi drivers threatened to step up protest actions, including paralysing access to Paris airports and the Roland Garros tennis tournament. French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country in an increasingly acrimonious standoff with the government about payments for transporting patients, which for many cab drivers form a major part of their businesses. "We'll be working on the details of the decisions, measures and directions that need to be taken over the coming weeks," Bayrou told journalists after meeting with taxi federations. "They have ideas for making savings," he added. Earlier Saturday, cab drivers had threatened further blockades, notably of Paris airports and of Sunday's first round of Roland Garros. In the afternoon, some 1,200 cabs were parked on a boulevard near the transport ministry's offices in Paris. Their chief demand is the scrapping of new rules coming into force in October on the transportation of patients to harmonise prices nationwide, which the taxi drivers say will severely erode their income. "We are calling for the immediate withdrawal of this agreement and for a return to the negotiating table," Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), told France Info radio Saturday morning. Grievances against ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt have also resurfaced, with taxi drivers seeing them as a poorly regulated threat to their livelihood.
Arab News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
French taxi drivers threaten airports, French Open tennis in standoff
PARIS: French taxi drivers will next week step up protest actions, including paralysing access to Paris airports and the French Open tennis championship, in an increasingly acrimonious standoff with the government, their main federation said on Saturday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport French taxi drivers have over the last week blocked roads at points across the country in a row with the government about payments for transporting patients which for many cab drivers form a major part of their businesses. Meanwhile grievances against ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt have been aired again, with taxi drivers seeing them as a poorly-regulated threat to their livelihood. Sector representatives are due to attend a crunch meeting at the ministry of transport from 1500 GMT Saturday which, in a sign of the seriousness of the situation, will also be attended by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. Their chief demand is the wholesale withdrawal of new rules coming into force in October on the transportation of patients to harmonize prices nationwide, which the taxi drivers say will severely erode their income. 'We are calling for the immediate withdrawal of this agreement and for a return to the negotiating table,' Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT), told France Info radio. 'From Monday,' in the absence of progress, Paris international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, 'will be blocked by taxis, and we will also take care of Roland Garros,' said Cordier, referring to the two-week French Open tennis which starts on Sunday. In such actions, taxi drivers usually park their vehicles to block car access, requiring people to walk long distances. But the government has no plans to drop the new rules which it said are needed, after health transport expenditure reached 6.74 billion euros in 2024, including 3.07 billion for licensed taxis. 'We will have to continue to show our discontent peacefully, but with increasingly tough blockades,' said Noel, a 60-year-old driver from Lyon, who has spent 21 years as a taxi driver.
