Bad news for motorists. In several cities in France, traffic is disrupted on the main roads this Monday morning. In question, the general mobilization launched by the National Taxi Union (UNT) against article 30 of the Social Security financing law, which aims to impose compulsory health carpooling.
For several hours, Ile-de-France taxis have been carrying out a “snail operation”, which is seriously disrupting traffic. According to the Sytadin website of the Ile-de-France roads department, traffic is slowed down on the A13 (in the direction of Paris, between Orgeval and Porte d’Auteuil), the A4 (in the direction of Paris, between Champigny-sur-Marne and Porte de Bercy), the A86 (between Gennevilliers and Nanterre) or the A1 (in the direction of Paris, between Saint-Denis and Porte de la Chapelle). However, the inconvenience remains limited since the accumulation of traffic jams in Île-de-France at 9 a.m. is described as “usual” by Sytadin, with 352 kilometers of cumulative traffic jams.
The fact remains that Île-de-France is far from being the only region impacted. Actions are also planned in Lille and Hauts-de-France. Filter dams will be in place until 10 a.m. in Lille, indicates France Info, as well as snail operations in the region. Similar disruptions are underway in Avignon, where around a hundred taxis have planned to demonstrate, as well as in Toulouse, Bayonne and Bordeaux. It is in Marseille that the taxi revolt promises to be strongest, since nearly 700 professionals are expected to participate in a “snail operation” in the Marseille city.
With this large-scale mobilization, taxis are determined to voice their opposition to the grouping of patients on medical transport desired by the government. In detail, article 30 of the Social Security financing law provides that, if a patient refuses to share an approved taxi or a vehicle from a medical transport company with other patients, then reimbursement of costs transport will be reduced by a penalty. Professionals estimate that waiting times for patients between their home and their healthcare destination could increase by 2 to 3 hours with this reform.
“Let us speak out against medical charters. For us, a patient is suffering. For the government, a patient costs,” storms the National Taxi Union in a press release. Another organization representative of the profession, which is also participating in the mobilization, Team Taxi, argues that “this measure opens the door to the Uberization of medical transport of taxis, placing drivers under the control of digital platforms, which will deal directly with hospitals.
Professionals can count on the support of the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, who decided to contact the Minister of Health by letter. “The concerns expressed by taxis regarding the management of shared transport by computer platforms are legitimate,” he wrote to Aurélien Rousseau. “It is undeniable that the profession, which has always demonstrated responsibility, finds itself in a delicate position,” he adds. The councilor requests the intervention of the minister “so that, in agreement with the taxi representatives”, he can find “fair and pragmatic solutions to preserve the interests of professionals while maintaining the quality of transport medical for patients.
