Taxi drivers got up from the dialogue table: there is a strike this Wednesday

The representatives of the taxi drivers They decided to withdraw from the dialogue table that the Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, had summoned, this Tuesday, February 21, to reach agreements and avoid the strike scheduled for Wednesday, February 22.

(See: Unemployment of taxi drivers: meeting points in the cities of the country).

The taxi drivers demanded the presence of the ICT Minister, Sandra Urrutia; the Minister of Labor, Gloria Inés Ramírez; and Vice President Francia Márquez. One of the leaders of the taxi drivers assured that there were no guarantees to continue with the dialogue.

The 26 union leaders who are part of the taxi drivers’ strike committee met this Tuesday afternoon with the Ministry of Transportation for a few minutes before they raised the dialogue table for what they consider “lack of guarantees.”

(See: Why are taxi drivers preparing protests for this Wednesday?).

Manuel Gil, one of the leaders of the taxi drivers, confirmed that The national strike will start at 4 in the morning on Wednesday, February 22.

The meeting, in which there were representatives of the Ministries of Labor and ICT, was agreed on February 17 between both parties after the intention of the taxi drivers to carry out a national strike on February 22 became known.

Among the claims that the leaders of the union brought to the dialogue table are Complaints about the increase in the price of gasoline and the regulation of mobility applications such as Uber.

Minister Reyes regretted that the representatives of the taxi drivers had withdrawn from the dialogue table and pointed out that it seems that what they wanted is to insist on the protests.

“We have been talking to taxi drivers constantly, so much so that we have several documents that respond to the clamor of taxi drivers” the official said.

(See: Government will not allow road blockades during taxi driver strike).

Gil, for his part, stressed that they did it due to a lack of guarantees and to prevent “appease the claims of fellow taxi drivers“.

The minister pointed out thathe debate proposed by the taxi drivers should take place in Congress and not in work groups.

“We have indicated that we are against informality and illegality. We comply with the law and today the law prohibits any transport in private vehicles“, he added.

TIME