Lisbon taxi drivers disrupt traffic in protest against Uber
Portuguese taxi drivers disrupted traffic in Lisbon Friday in protest against American taxi booking app Uber operating in the country.
Taxis made long delays during rush hour by moving vehicles at low speed across Lisbon streets.
Two labor groups representing thousands of taxi drivers are pressuring the government to shut down Uber operations in Portugal.
The labor groups claim Uber drivers are illegal workers because their services have no fixed price and insurance against accidents.
In addition, anti-Uber unions argue that Portugal already has too many taxis.
In its defense, the San Francisco-based multinational online transportation network company, Uber says it is running a legal business and its drivers are operating within the framework of the law.
The Portuguese government says it is reviewing the legal status of both sides' arguments and awaiting guidance from the European Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union.
The Friday action was the largest so far by Portuguese taxi drivers who also demonstrated in the cities of Porto and Faro.
Similar complaints have been raised by other taxis around the world who have been confronted with competition from Uber.
Uber and similar phone apps, which allow consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request which is then routed to nearest drivers who use their own cars, are gaining global popularity because they offer passengers cheaper rides compared to regular taxis.
Uber is reportedly available in over 60 countries and 404 cities worldwide.
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