VTC drivers are mobilizing in Montpellier this Thursday with a slow-motion operation to defend their profession.
This Thursday morning, private hire drivers launched a slow-moving operation in Montpellier to protest various challenges that complicate their work. The journey between the Montpellier Zenith and City Hall is likely to be significantly slowed down as drivers express their frustration with several problems they’ve encountered, particularly the influx of other private hire drivers during the summer. The goal is to raise awareness among both authorities and the public about the need to regulate this sector to ensure the sustainability of local drivers. A Show of Solidarity on the Road This morning, the streets of Montpellier witnessed a peaceful but determined demonstration by local private hire drivers. Through this slow-moving operation, they intend to draw attention to the growing difficulties they face in carrying out their work. This movement follows recent taxi protests against the reduction in reimbursements for medical transport, highlighting a growing frustration among several stakeholders in urban mobility. A call for national regulation
At the national level, VTC drivers are calling for an immediate freeze on the issuance of new VTC cards. This demand is supported by the observation that the proliferation of registered vehicles far exceeds existing demand. « It is becoming increasingly difficult to guarantee a year-round income, » explains a representative of Force Ouvrière. This action in Montpellier echoes a problem felt throughout the country: market saturation.
Specific challenges for Montpellier Montpellier’s private hire drivers face unique challenges, particularly during the summer. They denounce the lack of dialogue with the municipality regarding the implementation of a specific order. « This order is already in effect in other cities. In Paris, for example, local drivers receive priority on rides thanks to better status on the platforms, » explains the union representative. He proposes a seasonal order, from July to September, to limit the massive influx of external private hire drivers who come to work during the summer and exacerbate the job shortage for local drivers. A demand for recognition and protection