Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MADRID (AP) — Taxi drivers in Spain's two main cities are striking to urge authorities to protect their regulated service against companies like Uber and Cabify, which offer cheaper services.
In Barcelona, taxi drivers were stopping for 12 hours Thursday, causing disruptions that were most intense at the airport and train stations.
Thousands of cabbies also blocked the main artery in Madrid for a two-hour mid-morning protest.
Representatives of the main unions complained in a letter to local authorities that the liberalization of the car-hailing market undermined the cabbies' livelihood because multinationals can afford a cheaper service.
Uber said in an e-mailed statement it understands the concerns of drivers faced "with a change of the mobility system" and that it is open to industry talks. Cabify didn't respond to requests for comment.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
