VTC drivers have been mobilized since early Tuesday, November 26. Around a hundred cars are present. At the end of the morning, they blocked access to Saint-Jean station and since midday, they have disrupted traffic on the ring road between the François Mitterrand bridge and Mérignac airport.
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They met in front of the Matmut stadium north of Bordeaux very early this morning. Around a hundred cars responded to the call from their unions. Then, the VTC drivers joined the Saint-Jean station in a snail-like convoy on the boulevards and platforms, slowing down traffic.
VTC drivers in front of the Matmut stadium in Bordeaux, Tuesday November 26, 2024.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
At the station, the demonstrators had to face, during part of the morning, the blocking of taxis, which refused the blockade of the station by VTCs. Around noon, they then headed to the airport, while a delegation went to the prefecture.
Around a hundred drivers took part in the demonstration this Tuesday to defend their profession which is becoming impoverished. “These are the same demands as last year and during the last demonstrations, explains Marco Da Silva, spokesperson for VTC drivers in Bordeaux. C“is in relation to the numerus clausus and the VTC cards which are given on the fly”.
There are a lot of people for almost nothing today and we find ourselves in poverty.
Marco Da Silva,Spokesperson for VTC drivers in Bordeaux
Known demands to which are added local specificities. “There is also the problem of places at the station and the airport. We take our customers on the fly and a little wildly, indicates the driver. It is also against Uber which is making commission increases which are exorbitant and which put our drivers in precarious circumstances.”
Marco Da Silva, spokesperson for Bordeaux VTC drivers, interviewed by France 3 Aquitaine in front of the Matmut stadium, Tuesday November 26, 2024. “We are asking for a numerus clausus to limit the granting of VTC cards”.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
The impoverishment of VTC and taxi drivers is the result of a massive influx of new drivers onto the market in a very short time. The total number of trips increased at the same time, but not enough for each driver to do well.
For the moment, Bercy is opposed to the establishment of any barrier to entry into the profession.“We are very motivated today and I hope that we will make ourselves heard following all these demonstrations,” specifies the spokesperson. The VTC drivers are mainly waiting for a meeting, scheduled for late morning, with the prefect of Gironde and a delegation from Bordeaux town hall. “After this meeting, we will go to the airport via the ring road. We will also block there to be heard. Then we will return to the prefecture where we will stay until this evening.” adds the VTC driver.
Demonstration by VTC drivers who denounce in particular the increase in commissions operated by Uber.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
VTC drivers are demonstrating in front of Saint-Jean station this morning.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
Access to Saint-Jean station was complicated Tuesday morning, November 26.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
In the ranks, the discontent seems unanimous in the face of deteriorating working conditions. “We cannot continue to work sixty hours a week to earn 1,200 euros per month.” also notes Samuel Melis, VTC driver who came to block access to Saint-Jean station this morning.
We work a lot of hours for not a lot of money in the end!
Samuel Melis,VTC driver in Bordeaux
“We cannot continue to work sixty hours a week to earn 1,200 euros a month!” VTC drivers denounce their working conditions.
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© France 3 Aquitaine
Furthermore, these VTC drivers have the feeling of police relentlessness in Bordeaux.”Every day we are checked. Yesterday afternoon, for example, they came by three times in two hours to take photos and throw out parking fines as they followed. And these are fines of 135 euros, so it's huge compared to our work on the groundannoys Marco Da Silva who promises to reiterate the mobilization every Tuesday, until the profession “be heard”.
