Uber is bracing for a political storm in France that adds to the turmoil it already faces across Europe.
The country’s taxi unions have called for a nationwide, unlimited strike starting June 25, demanding that the French government crack down on the app-based ride service’s use of unlicensed chauffeurs. The San Francisco-based company’s UberPop application is already opposed by the government.
Companies like Uber “continue to sell applications that promote undeclared labor,” the unions said in a statement, adding that they “support all targeted actions, organized from this day on against Uber.”
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Wednesday asked the country’s police and the tax fraud office to step up monitoring UberPop chauffeurs. The special police unit, dubbed “Les Boers,” has already made 420 legal filings against what they say are clandestine taxis using UberPop and similar services, Cazeneuve said.
The latest twist in France further complicates Uber’s operations, which have faced issues in practically every European country where it is present, including Portugal, Belgium and Germany. It is also being challenged at home with California’s labor commissioner saying on Wednesday that drivers connecting with clients through its app must be considered as employees, with a minimum wage, mileage compensation and social security.
The decision strikes at the heart of Uber’s business model. Investors last year valued the startup at $40 billion, partly based on its growth prospects worldwide. Uber, like other “sharing economy” startups, has built a business around a flexible car fleet piloted by people it contends are independent contractors.
French Woes
In Europe, obstacles range from slow adoption and protesting taxi drivers to outright bans. In France, the company says it has signed up a million users — including 250,000 for UberPop — in just over three years.
Police in the cities of Strasbourg, Marseille and Nantes have prohibited Uber’s Pop service. In Lyon, Uberpop was banned on Thursday after taxis planned similar actions, newspapers said.
Uber spokesman in France, Thomas Meister, said the French interior ministry’s attitude “is leading to a strong increase in the acts of violence everywhere in France, perpetrated by a small minority of taxi drivers, who’ve decided to take law into their own hands.” Uber is offering legal support to drivers in trouble, he said.
The company’s drivers have been threatened with violence.
After Marseille and Nice in recent days, taxi drivers chased Uber drivers in Strasbourg and Lille on Thursday, according to media reports. In Strasbourg, at least one driver was ambushed by taxis who threw flour at him and let down his tires. In Lille, taxis captured an Uber driver and took him to the police, La Voix du Nord reported.
Court Decision
French police in January started handing out fines to Uber drivers, enforcing a law voted in October that bans practices including some used by UberPop, such as cruising in search of clients. Uber has said the rule leaves room for interpretation. Police officers raided Uber’s Paris office earlier in March.
A Paris judge who studied the taxi law ruled in December not to block the service. The ruling was appealed by taxi drivers and a new court decision is expected in September.
The company has scrapped with regulators from Houston to Berlin on issues from whether Uber is required to follow existing taxi laws to how it handles rider data and even whether its cars can pick riders up at airports.
Drivers in Brussels risk having their cars confiscated after the city’s police tribunal last month ruled they offer a taxi service and should abide by the same rules as cabbies. Germany has probably had the toughest stance. A German court banned commercial transportation services without a license. Uber’s UberPop discount service was the main target.
http://skift.com/2015/06/20/frances-taxi-unions-threaten-huge-strike-unless-uber-crackdown-happens/
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GRIMSBY
Taxi drivers to undergo training to spot child sex exploitation
LOCAL cabbies are set to be given training to help spot and report child sexual exploitation.
North East Lincolnshire Council officers have drawn up plans for all licensed hackney carriage and private hire trader drivers to be required to undertake the instruction and to display approved information about the campaign in their vehicles.
The Say Something If You See Something campaign would require cabbies to provide evidence that they have attended a briefing as soon as possible.
Council officers said a similar scheme had successfully been developed and delivered in Sheffield and provides advice, support and training to a number of industries.
A briefing note relating to the campaign stated: "The message is clear. If you see something that you are not happy with report it, and with training, here is how you do it."
Alongside the campaign runs a police authorised trigger plan, providing support to police call-takers in relation to what action is needed, when and by which officer.
All 628 existing holders of private hire and hackney carriage drivers' licences have passed a knowledge test, which examines their geographical knowledge of the area and have obtained a BTEC level 2 qualifications relating to their trade. They will now be required to complete the new course to retain their licence. New applicants will also be required to undertake the training.
Council papers said: "Due to the nature of their work, hackney carriage and private hire drivers have the potential to observe the signs of child sex exploitation (CSE) in a wide range of individuals.
"All drivers licensed by North East Lincolnshire Council currently have to achieve a specific BTEC level 2 qualification, which includes a general safeguarding module.
"However, to make best use of this potential, a plan has been developed to provide briefing sessions specifically related to CSE to all existing drivers licensed by North East Lincolnshire Council."
The council's Safeguarding Children's Board would organise a number of two-hour sessions free of charge in July and August under the new proposals.
It is proposed that all existing licensed drivers attend one of the sessions by September 30.
And from October, all taxi drivers will have to provide certified evidence that they have attended a session in order to renew their licence.
Portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, Councillor Hazel Chase said: "Our taxi drivers are in a unique position in that they travel around North East Lincolnshire daily.
"They could see something that makes them feel uneasy, that might be a child in the wrong company or a vulnerable adult, and this training is designed to make sure that taxi drivers know how to report anything which causes them concern.
"Safeguarding is everyone's business and this piece of work is part of a much wider CSE Strategy and awareness campaign which will be launched officially next month."
The council's Licensing And Community Protection Committee will decide upon the proposal at its next meeting on Wednesday, June 24.
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Taxi-drivers-undergo-training-spot-child-sex/story-26729302-detail/story.html
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A TAXI driver from Walsall who unlawfully plied for trade in a private hire vehicle while he was uninsured has been ordered to pay out more than £1,700.
Naveed Mohammed, of Derby Street, Walsall was caught out in Walsall Street, Willenhall by Walsall Council's licensing enforcement team.
The 24-year-old was found to have no insurance and was not wearing an ID badge when he was caught during a spot check on October 31 last year.
Legal proceedings were taken against Mr Mohammed and he was fined £300 for the offence of plying for hire during a hearing at Walsall Magistrates' Court.
He was also fined a further £300 for the offence of using a vehicle without insurance and ordered to pay £1,089.02 costs, along with a victim surcharge of £30.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, portfolio holder for economy, infrastructure and development at Walsall Council, said: "We need to maintain public confidence in the safety of the private hire and hackney carriage trades in the borough.
"Drivers are responsible for making sure they comply with the requirements of their licence. As in this case, carrying out illegal journeys often invalidates their insurance.
"Officers will always give advice to drivers to help them understand the rules but when they flout them as in this case, then we will have no hesitation in taking them to court."
http://www.walsalladvertiser.co.uk/Uninsured-Walsall-taxi-driver-ordered-pay-1-700/story-26729263-detail/story.html#ixzz3dg1ILJ61
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ILFRACOMBE
Taxi driver left without job following knuckle duster discovery
A FORMER taxi driver has been left without an income after police discovered a knuckle duster in his vehicle, a court has heard.
Pauls Marks, of Littlefield Close, Barnstaple, was approached by officers in Ilfracombe during the evening of May 3 after parking on the zig zagged lines of a pedestrian crossing.
Lyndsey Baker, for the prosecution, said that after officers asked the 27-year-old to move his taxi, they became concerned after smelling cannabis and so decided to carry out a search of his vehicle.
"He admitted to smoking cannabis about 20 minutes before going out in the car," Mrs Baker said. "Officers found a knuckle duster in the driver's side door compartment as well as a small bag of cannabis.
"He told officers he found the knuckle duster in the back of the cab a few weeks before and had placed it in the door and forgotten about it."
Mrs Baker added that despite the discovery there was no indication that Marks intended to use the weapon.
Lawrence Overend, for the defence, told the court that the offence relating to the knuckle duster "seems to have occurred against a rather unfortunate twist of fate".
He said: "What he should have done was taken steps to dispose or hand in the item, but probably without giving it any degree of thought at all he just put it in the door compartment."
Mr Overend added that as a result of the discovery Marks had already been significantly punished as he had decided not to renew his taxi drivers' licence.
Marks pleaded guilty to possessing 3.08g of cannabis and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
He was ordered to carry out 80 hours' unpaid work and fined £70. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and a criminal courts charge of £180.
http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Taxi-driver-left-job-following-knuckle-duster/story-26734411-detail/story.html
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