Taxi drivers issue a first warning with a day of protest that divides the sector

BarcelonaFrom early Tuesday morning, hundreds of taxis occupied Gran Via and Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, ​​in a new strike that failed to convince the entire sector. The action, called by Élite Taxi, was the first warning issued by taxi drivers in defense of the future taxi law. currently undergoing parliamentary processingIn the face of pressure to back down from platforms like Uber, the association's spokesperson, Tito Álvarez, led the taxi drivers' demonstration towards Foment del Treball, jokingly changing the employers' association's name to "Foment del Treball Precario" (Promotion of Precarious Work). With around 500 taxis parked on one of the city's main thoroughfares, according to the Guardia Urbana (Barcelona's municipal police), the protesters gathered in front of the association's headquarters to criticize its support for ride-hailing platforms. "We are the people at the bottom fighting against those at the top. They will not silence us, and we will not be immobilized by the Uber mafia," said Álvarez, to the rhythm of firecrackers exploding along Via Laietana, a protest against "the financial vultures."

Although the blockade of Gran Via was scheduled to last until 4:00 PM, the taxi drivers decided to call it off shortly before 1:00 PM. However, they made it clear that if the proposed taxi law goes awry, they will not remain silent. "We are not going to stop and we will return to the streets in February," warned Álvarez, who knows that this is the month when major international conferences, such as Integrated Systems Europe and the Mobile World Congress (MWC), begin to arrive in the city.

Many of the participants in the demonstration acknowledged that Tuesday's protest was "weak" and "small" compared to the taxi driver mobilizations of years past in the Catalan capital, when thousands of taxis blocked the streets for days. They also noted that it was short-lived, as the blockade was lifted just hours before the protest began. The chosen date, right after a long weekend, didn't help, nor did the fact that the taxi strike coincided with a doctors' strike. But above all, the demobilization of the sector was a significant factor. Élite Taxi is the most representative association in the Barcelona metropolitan area, giving voice to more than half of the 10,500 existing taxi licenses. The remaining licenses are divided among the Taxi Union of Catalonia (STAC), the Taxi Companys Group (ATC), and the Pakistani Taxi Drivers Association of Catalonia (Pak Taxi), and none of these associations joined the protest. They have used a variety of arguments: the ATC points out that "too many work stoppages and strikes have been held without any real impact on improving taxi drivers' conditions," and Pak Taxi believes the protest "will not bring any real benefit."

Despite the division, Élite Taxi has managed to broaden its impact beyond the city, with the participation of colleagues from Figueres, Terrassa, Sabadell, and Lloret de Mar, where the deregulation of ride-hailing licenses is also a problem. White taxis from other Catalan municipalities joined the blockade of Gran Via, while not far away, taxi drivers from platforms like FreeNow continued working, and platforms like Uber increased the price of their services. "Complaints are starting to arise about ride-hailing fares. This is what will happen if taxis disappear. They just want to take advantage," Álvarez insisted.

The Government wants to approve the law "as soon as possible"

In response to the protest called by taxi drivers, the Catalan government has reiterated its commitment to the sector. "We hope the law will be approved as soon as possible," stressed government spokesperson Silvia Paneque, who is also the minister in the department that spearheaded the new regulations. According to her estimates, the first results are expected in the first quarter of 2026. The ride-hailing association, Unauto, has also responded. Its president, José Manuel Berzal, has again demanded that the government halt the new regulations. Furthermore, Uber took advantage of the day to announce that it will pay €1,500 to cover insurance for each taxi driver who joins the platform until the end of March next year. According to the platform, there are approximately 2,000 taxi drivers working with them in Barcelona who "generate double the income of those who work only on a handheld basis or with radio dispatch, reaching over €10,000 in monthly revenue."