Taxistas Say
Strike Was A Success
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Taxistas Say
Strike Was A Success
Hundreds of taxi drivers or taxistas took to
the streets on Monday to continue pressure
against the government to limit the "porteo"
- the informal taxi service. The government
of Oscar Arias had tought to have resolved
the problems last month when a meeting
between government officials,
representatives of formal taxi drivers and "piratas".
However, the red taxi drivers are not happy
with the situation and have vowed to
continue to pressure the government.
Led by Michael Sosa of the Federation of
Taxi Drivers, the call came for the "fuerza
roja" (red force) to take to the streets,
blocking traffic in some key intersections
and major streets and parking in front of
Casa Presidencial in Zapote.
The strike action did not take force until
noon time when the largest number of taxi
drivers joined the movement.
Though not all taxi drivers joined the
movement, many saying that they did not like
the accord signed in the first place and why
bother protesting.
The agreement signed in February by the
ministro de la Presidencia, Rodrigo Arias,
the ministra de Transportes, Karla González
and representatives of both the "porteadores"
(the illegal taxi service) and "taxistas"
(the legal taxi service or licensed red
taxis), was supposed to have prohibited the
registration of new porteadores, allowing
the existing porteadores to continue to
apply their trade.
The agreement was also for the ministerio de
Transportes to take a "zero tolerance"
stance against the porteo, as the Policia de
Transito to stop, fine and confiscate (if
necessary) vehicles used in the illegal taxi
service.
However, that has not happened and many taxi
drivers fear that the only way they will get
the attention of the legislators and
pressure the government to do something is
by way of violence.
The problem is not a new one, it is a
problem of many years and the failure of
previous governments to handle the
situation, passing it on each successive new
government.
Porteadores grew out of the need by many
residents living in areas where the formal
taxis did not provide service, primarily
fearing their security, as well not
responding to calls for short runs, where it
took them more time to get to the area than
the fare for the service their were being
asked to provide. The informal taxi service
grew as their service was being offered
usually at lower rates that then formal
taxis.
However, over time, a number of porteadores,
with the lax regulations and enforcement by
transport officials, decided to offer their
services on a wider scale, trolling the
streets in search of fares, similar to the
taxistas. Many used a "maria" or taximeter
in providing their services, cutting into
the business of the taxistas, who were
burdened with the cost of licensing,
insurance and operating regulations that was
not imposed on the illegal taxis.
At the end of yesterday's strike action, the
taxistas received a commitment by
legislators for a creation of "special
commission" that will provide a report
within a month on the proposed legislation
to regulate the porteo.
The announcement was enough for the lifting
of the action and several roadblocks, like
on Avenida Segunda in front of the
Legislative Assembly building.
Until next month.
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