Naples – The Neapolitan taxi drivers' unions—Confail Taxi, Federtaxi/Cisal, Or.Sa Taxi, Fast Confsal, Sitan/Atn, UGL Taxi, UriTaxi, UTI, Consortaxi, Associazione Tassisti di Base, and Unimpresa—are protesting what they call "yet another smear campaign" against the industry.
In a joint statement, worker representatives rejected accusations circulating in the media regarding the alleged taxi shortage in the city. "This is not a matter of poor service attributable to the operators," the statement reads, "but rather the consequences of uncontrolled traffic and the failure to reinstate the Limited Traffic Zones."
The images released in recent days, the unions explain, do not show the absence of taxi drivers, but rather chaotic traffic that slows down and hinders service. "Before discussing shifts and improvements," the statement continues, "it is essential to ensure an orderly and functional road system. Only then will it be possible to evaluate targeted interventions, always in the best interests of citizens and the quality of service."
The taxi drivers ' united front firmly rejects the "scapegoat" role for the inefficiencies of urban mobility and reiterates its call with a specific request: the urgent convening of a permanent technical meeting between the municipal administration and trade unions, as promised during the September 24 meeting.
"We are ready to do our part with dignity and a sense of duty," the unions conclude, "but we ask for respect, a listening ear, and concrete answers to ensure a truly efficient service to citizens."
The press release comes amid a climate already marked by protests and mobilizations within the industry, which in recent months has repeatedly denounced operational difficulties due to a lack of urban planning and scant institutional attention.
The protest by Neapolitan taxi drivers isn't a bolt from the blue. The statement released on September 28th by the main trade unions is just the latest chapter in a dispute that has fueled tensions with the city administration for months.
The spark was the city's mobility management: increasingly congested traffic, the lack of an effective plan, and, above all, the failure to reinstate Limited Traffic Zones. These are issues that taxi drivers consider essential to ensuring a regular and efficient service, but which—they say—have remained unresolved for too long.
The first demonstrations took place at the beginning of the summer, with protests and spontaneous meetings in front of Palazzo San Giacomo. Workers denounced the difficulty of ensuring punctual rides in a city choked by private cars and constant exemptions from the restricted traffic zone (ZTL). During the hottest days of August, taxis lined up along the main thoroughfares of the city center, honking horns and holding banners demanding "respect and dignity."
Discussions with the municipal administration have been frequent, but they have often resulted in preliminary meetings. The last one, on September 24th, hinted at a breakthrough: the promise of a permanent technical committee to address the critical issues of urban mobility. A promise that taxi drivers are now waiting to see fulfilled.
The sector's discontent is further exacerbated by the perception of an "unfairly denigrating" media campaign. Some news reports have pointed to the alleged shortage of taxis in service, sparking discontent among users. But the unions reiterate: "The problem is not a lack of operators, but a road system that makes it impossible to operate smoothly."
The associations—from Confail Taxi to Federtaxi/Cisal, including Or.Sa Taxi, Fast Confsal, Sitan/Atn, UGL Taxi, UriTaxi, UTI, Consortaxi, the Association of Basic Taxi Drivers, and Unimpresa—remain united. And the September 28 press release issued a clear warning: taxi drivers will not accept being made the scapegoat for the city's inefficiencies.
Now the ball is in the City's court. If the promised technical meeting doesn't materialize, the sector is ready to relaunch the mobilization, with new protest initiatives already under consideration. In the background, it remains a city where getting around becomes more complicated every day: for residents, for tourists, and, above all, for those who deal with traffic for a living.
It's important for taxi drivers to have a say in these traffic problems, but I wonder if they're sure traffic is the sole cause. Solutions must also be sought in the behavior of taxi drivers themselves.