Athens Faces Taxi Strike Amidst Nationwide Protests

The news in Greek

1. απεργία (f.)
   Όταν εργαζόμενοι σταματούν να δουλεύουν για να διαμαρτυρηθούν. ↩︎
2. αίτημα (n.)
   Κάτι που ζητάει κάποιος επισήμως. ↩︎
3. περιλαμβάνω
   Έχω μέσα ή συμπεριλαμβάνω κάτι. ↩︎
4. πρόσβαση (f.)
   Η δυνατότητα να μπεις ή να χρησιμοποιήσεις κάτι. ↩︎
5. πλατφόρμα (f.)
   Ψηφιακός χώρος ή εφαρμογή για υπηρεσίες ή επικοινωνία. ↩︎
6. νομοθεσία (f.)
   Το σύστημα από νόμους μιας χώρας. ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: How long is the taxi strike in Athens?

Question: What do the taxi drivers want regarding platforms like Uber?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
απεργία (f.)	strike
αίτημα (n.)	demands
περιλαμβάνω	include
πρόσβαση (f.)	access
πλατφόρμα (f.)	platforms
νομοθεσία (f.)	legislation

Read the full story

The primary demands brought forth by the Syndicate of Attica Taxi Drivers (SATA) focus on a wide range of issues from operational regulations to competitive practices. A notable request includes the demand for taxis to be allowed access to dedicated bus lanes, aimed at reducing transit times and improving service efficiency.

Additionally, the syndicate is advocating for action against unregulated activities by ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt. Taxi drivers argue that these companies engage in predatory pricing and disregard local tariff regulations, thereby fostering unfair competition. The syndicate insists on the strict implementation of a legislative amendment preventing intermediary companies from collecting fares directly.

Moreover, SATA is calling for the correct implementation of digital platform regulations concerning rental car contracts and the creation of a registry for licensed rental vehicles. A requested increase of 33% in the minimum rental contract price has also been put forward.

The syndicate has also raised concerns regarding the classification and taxation policies affecting their industry. They are urging for the abolition of controversial tax law provisions and the immediate enforcement of a tax-exempt threshold of €12,000. Furthermore, taxi driver representatives have expressed their opposition to the mandatory zero-emissions taxi registration requirement scheduled for 2026, proposing a deferment to 2035 instead.

Finally, the union seeks support from the Panhellenic Taxi Federation and other taxi associations across Greece to join their cause and participate in solidarity actions. This call to action stems from a collective desire to address the various challenges facing the taxi industry amidst broader societal and economic changes.

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