Press Release 8 October 2014 Contact: Jaime Aguilar +63 920 968 6129 Transport workers belonging to the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union (NCTU) picketed the LTFRB today to call the attention of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) about the growing use of taxi apps, particularly Uber, GrabTaxi and Easy Taxi, and to conduct an investigation to ensure that they use only accountable, regulated and knowledgeable taxi and courier services. “The companies than own these apps – like Uber Technologies Inc. (Uber) – promote themselves as electronic marketplaces that connect customers and drivers using mobile apps, but they may be in conflict with existing taxi service regulations,” Ernie Cruz, chairperson of NCTU said. “As a regulatory agency, the LTFRB has a duty to promote fair competition and protect all taxi franchise holders,” Cruz added. In its statement, the NCTU said that it took action today as part of the global day of action launched by taxi unions who are members of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to prevent potentially unsafe competition by non-regulated freelance companies using app technologies. This summer, there were protests against Uber by registered taxi operators in cities including London, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, Milan and Seattle. In fact, Germany banned the Uber app at the start of September, while unions in Belgium are working with employers and authorities to confront Uber and protect standards for both drivers and passengers. “The LTFRB must ensure that Uber, as well as other apps like Grab Taxi and Easy Taxi, are not doing the same thing here in our country,” Cruz said. “Unions are certainly not against computer technology in the taxi sector. What we are against is these companies undermining public safety and the jobs of real, regulated taxi drivers by bypassing regulations and refusing liability in the case of accidents,” Frank Moreels, ITF road transport section vice-chair, said in a separate press release. Uber is present in more than 205 cities in 45 countries across six continents. It is now operating in Manila. The NCTU is affiliated with Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisang at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) and International Transport Federation (ITF).
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 07:07:50 +0000
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