Benidorm Taxi strike threat

BENIDORM taxi drivers are threatening possible strike action in protest against a proposed night summer bus service to nightclubs in the town.

The drivers association has dubbed the proposal as ‘unfair’ and demands that if the service goes ahead, that it do so ‘all year round’, said Radio Taxi President Francisco Muñoz.

“It is a public service. Esther it is made available on a permanent basis or it is nota t all. It is not the first time the company introduces or later stops a service due to it not being viable. We cannot do this, we’re here all year round,” he told the digital version of local Spanish daily Informacion.

Muñoz reportedly said they have not ruled out strike action. Benidorm Town Hall is studying the proposal by the bus company, Llorente Bus, although a decision has not been made.

“We are considering it, the other day we had a meeting with the company but nothing has been approved, among other things, it could be detrimental for the taxi drivers, and this is why we are weighing up the pros and cons,” said Mari Carmen Martinez, Councillor for Transport.

The Benidorm taxi industry has lost more than 40 per cent of its trade in the past three years. Drivers attribute this decline largely to unfair competition, and they demand action by the local authority. “The administration does not work how it should,” Muñoz said. “They only worry about making us pay more taxes, telling us they want a quality service, but I ask them if the ‘pirates’ offer quality.”

Meanwhile, they also complain against unlicensed taxi drivers in the ‘British zone’ of Benidorm. “The police are doing nothing,” said Muñoz.

Photo credit: Bogdan Migulski