Taxi drivers protest against Uber in five Brazilian capitals

Cabdrivers rallied against Uber, a mobile app offering paid rides, this Wednesday (Nov. 11) in five Brazilian capitals—Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasília and Curitiba.

In Rio de Janeiro, the drivers protested in several places throughout the city. This is the third protest against Uber carried out by cabdrivers in Rio. On the first rally, in July 24th, drivers claimed the app offering paid rides was illegal and demanded Mayor Eduardo Paes to impose a ban on Uber.

In September, Paes sanctioned the law passed by councilors prohibiting Uber. The controversy surrounding the issue continued in October when the courts sentenced for suspending the law’s effects, which would permit the services to be provided. The taxi drivers rallied again in October 20th. The city hall appealed against the court’s injunction. However, earlier this month, the appeal was denied by the courts, which carried the sentence allowing the services to be provided by the cars registered by the app. The sentence led the protests today.

In São Paulo, taxi drivers have also protested on Wednesday (Nov. 11) against Uber, demanding a proper control by the municipality over the law sanctioned by Mayor Fernando Haddad in October, prohibiting the use of private cars registered in the app offering paid rides. According to cabdrivers, there are not enough inspectors to curb this transport.

Cabdrivers are also demanding punishment for private cars riding illegally in places like hotels, looking for passengers even though they do not have the required licenses. Taxi drivers’ unions submitted an official letter to City Council seeking the councilors’ support for their claims. According to the representative of São Paulo Autonomous Cabdrivers Union, the protest assembled about 8,000 cars.

 In Brasília, around 500 cabdrivers joined the protest, which started at the city’s airport and moved to National Congress.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta