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PROTESTS

Taxi drivers block French roads and airport access in protest over fares

Taxi drivers are staging a series of blockades on Monday, including in Toulouse, Bordeaux and the outskirts of Paris, in protest over changes to the fare structure.

Taxi drivers block French roads and airport access in protest over fares
A French taxi driver unionist (L) walks past taxis lined up before the start of a protest "snail operation" called by the four federations of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, against transport tariffs set by health insurance company, in Bordeaux, south-western France, on January 29, 2024. - Taxis are blocking several major roads across France to demand a renegotiation of the remuneration conditions for patient transport, while the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam) offered an agreement that was deemed unfavourable by the trade unions, who demanded the status quo. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP)

Monday will see a series of blockades and rolling roadblocks, with taxi drivers in Toulouse and Bordeaux targeting access to airports, while those in and around Paris will be aiming to cause disruption on the périphérique (ringroad).

By 9.30am on Monday, 400km of traffic jams had reported in the greater Paris region, with disruption centred on the A13 and the ringroad.

In Toulouse, taxi unions say they intend to bring road access to Toulouse-Blagnac airport “to a standstill”, as well as access onto the Toulouse ringroad from adjacent motorways.

In Bordeaux taxi drivers intend to meet at 10am and form two convoys – one heading into the city centre and the other heading to Bordeaux-Mérignac airport. They intend to remain overnight and continue blockades into Tuesday.

Taxi drivers from Marseille and the surrounding areas intend to form up a convoy and create a rolling roadblock heading to Nîmes, while Brittany will also see protests centred on Rennes on Monday morning, as will the city of Lyon.

The drivers are protesting over changes to the fare structure for patient transport services.

In France, patients can obtain a prescription for transport by taxi to medical appointments, the cost of which is reimbursed by the government through the CPAM health service.

Fees for patient transport trips are set by the government and taxi drivers say the new fares do not take into account the rate of inflation and will lead to them making a loss on some patient transfer journeys.

READ ALSO How to get free transport to medical appointments

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PROTESTS

IN PICTURES: Thousands march for wages and peace in France

Thousands of people took to the streets to demonstrate in France on May 1st, with unions calling for wages, peace in Gaza and a "more protective" Europe.

IN PICTURES: Thousands march for wages and peace in France

From Marseille to Lyon, Rennes and Toulouse, processions of people bearing Palestinian flags as well as those of the unions reflected these multiple slogans.

“I am here for the workers, it is important to rally for our rights, but also to denounce the terrible situation in Gaza and Palestine. This must stop,” said Louise, 27, in Paris.

In the run-up to the European elections on June 9, several political leaders were involved, such as Fabien Roussel (PCF) in Lille and Manon Aubry (LFI) in Lyon.

In Saint-Etienne, the head of the Socalists’ list Raphaël Glucksmann was prevented from joining the procession after paint was thrown and a few dozen activists hurled insults.

French workers’ unions’ leaders march behind a banner during Labour Day protests in Paris on May 1, 2024. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)

Marseille was one of the first processions to take place with between 3,000 (according to police estimates), and 8,000 (according to CGT union estimates) people taking part, marching behind a banner that read “Mobilised for peace and social progress”.

In Rennes, the demonstration attracted 1,400 demonstrators, according to the prefecture, while in Nantes, where there were several thousand people, there were violent incidents and damage to property.

Between 6,500 (police) and 13,000 (CGT) people marched in Lyon, with at least 17 people arrested due to damage and tensions with the police.

Protestors clash with French anti-riot police during a May Day rally in Nantes, western France, on May 1, 2024. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)

There were also between 4,000 (unions) and 1,850 (police) protesters in Bordeaux and between 3,000 and 8,000 in Toulouse.

In Lille, the procession brought together between 2,100 (police) and 4,000 people (CGT).

In Paris, the demonstration set off shortly after 2.00pm from Place de la République towards Nation, with the CFDT and Unsa unions marching alongside the CGT, FSU and Solidaires.

‘Very worrying’

In Paris, Sylvie Démange, a 59-year-old librarian, pointed out the “very worrying” social context, citing “the rise of the extreme right”, “wage inequalities” or the vertical attitude of the government.

The CGT, FSU and Solidaires, as well as youth organisations including Unef, Fage and MNL (National High School Movement), had launched a joint appeal in particular “against austerity”, for employment and wages or peace again.

A person holds a heart-shaped pillow reading in French “Macron, I hate you with all my heart” during the May Day protest in Paris on May 1, 2024. (Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP)

The CFDT union called for people to “join the processions organised throughout France, to demand a more ambitious and more protective Europe for workers”.

Last year, the eight main French unions (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, Solidaires, FSU) marched together against pension reform.

Nationally, 120,000 to 150,000 demonstrators were expected, according to a note from the French intelligence services seen by AFP.

This is significantly less than last year when protests united nearly 800,000 demonstrators, according to authorities, and 2.3 million, according to the CGT. In 2022, the police counted around 116,000 demonstrators and the CGT 210,000.

People burn Olympic rings made from cardboard during the May Day protest in Paris on May 1, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

According to the CGT, turnout is “a little bit higher than May 1, 2022”, so “societal anger is definitely present”, said Sophie Binet.

In Paris, between 15,000 and 30,000 people were expected by the authorities, including 400 to 800 radical demonstrators.

By 2.40 pm, police had carried out checks on 917 people and arrested 25.

According to police sources, 12,000 police officers and gendarmes were to be mobilised over the course of the day, including 5,000 in Paris.

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