French Taxi VS Uber, round 2
In Paris, 2,480 taxi drivers will launch a second round of their most recent legal battle with Uber on Friday, blaming the American behemoth for unfair competition and demanding damages totaling 455 million euros.
In the 12 years since it first started operating in France, Uber has faced numerous legal challenges. This most recent one pits them against about 8 % of the French profession, with the plaintiffs winning thanks to the support of nine unions and associations.
Following a previous court of cassation ruling acknowledging the relationship of subordination between the Uber platform and one of its former drivers, the French drivers took the action. In that case, the court found that the driver was not a freelancer but rather had an employment contract with the platform.
Photo by https://www.pexels.com/fr-fr/@jterrazz/ Why is Uber accused of unfair competition?
Uber is engaging in unfair competition by refusing to abide by French labor and tax laws, according to the representatives of the taxi drivers.
One of the drivers' attorneys, Cedric Dubucq, added that they" intend to demonstrate that Uber has set up a system where illegality has been established as an operating principle and where breaking the law is used to trample over the market, to the detriment of competition."
The drivers claim that they each spend 9,300 euros a year out of pocket, and they also demand damages and interest from Uber, claiming that the behavior is unjustified and" anachronistic."
" Today, more than 35,000 taxi drivers and VTC use our app to make money." According to an Uber spokeswoman, this action is opposed by the entire industry and drivers who want to maintain their independence.
Uber already ordered to pay taxis for the same reason
In a different instance, Uber was ordered by the Paris Court of Appeal earlier this month to pay 149 taxi drivers back for unfair competition brought on by UberPop's activity.
