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Home > Mumbai > Mumbai News > Article > Taxi Union plans to strike Mumbai hard

Taxi Union plans to 'strike' Mumbai hard

Updated on: 25 July,2016 09:40 AM IST  | 
Shashank Rao |

After a fairly successful strike on June 21, Jai Bhagwan Taxi Rickshaw Sanghatana has called for an indefinite strike against app-based taxi aggregators Ola and Uber

Taxi Union plans to 'strike' Mumbai hard

Mumbaikars might be in for another troublesome Tuesday since after a successful June 21 taxi strike, the lesser-known Jai Bhagwan Taxi Rickshaw Sanghatana (JBTRS) has called for a bigger and indefinite one on July 26 to demand regulations on the services of app-based taxi aggregators Ola and Uber. The union has this time asked all taxis as well as autorickshaws to participate in its protest.


Also read: Mumbai cab union calls share taxi services by Uber and Ola Share 'illegal'


The last time, only taxis were part of the strike, but now the union has also asked autorickshaws to participate in its protest. Pic for Representation
The last time, only taxis were part of the strike, but now the union has also asked autorickshaws to participate in its protest. Pic for Representation


On June 21, only black and yellow taxis were part of the strike, with 65 per cent of them participating in it.

Govt wary
This strike call has made the state government wary as the union is asking both taxis and autorickshaws to stay off the roads, that too indefinitely. “Such a protest is illegal as the government is already taking steps in regularising the app-based taxi aggregators,” said an RTO official.

Also read: Association of cabbies, automen seek inquiry against Ola, Uber

Sources said state transport minister Diwakar Raote tried speaking to union leader Bala Sanap and asked him to withdraw the strike, but the JBTRS chief didn’t agree. “Our strike is confirmed and we will go ahead with it. I met the minister with our grievances, but till our demands are fulfilled, we will continue with the indefinite strike,” said Bala Sanap.

During the previous call made in June, Sanap had stated that he would give a one-month deadline to the state government to regularise Uber and Ola.

Sources said Sanap has met leaders of various taxi and autorickshaw unions to request them for support. Although some unions said their members will not participate in the strike, they refused to take any responsibility for them, saying drivers and permit owners have to take their own decisions.

“Our members will not participate in the strike, but there are chances that the drivers will fear violence and so, wouldn’t ply,” said AL Quadros, Mumbai Taximen’s Union, which is the largest taxi union in the city.

On the other hand, Shashank Rao, leader of autorickshaw union, has said they are not participating in the strike. “We are not participating in the strike. Our members will ply,” said Rao.

The strike has been called from Tuesday morning, which means that people heading for work and children for school will be the first ones to be affected. Even share taxis and autos are expected to staff off the roads during this protest.

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