Naples - Neapolitan taxi drivers are raising their voices and demanding the suspension of flat rates for the entire Christmas period. The request, formalized by a trade committee and submitted to the unions, stems from a specific complaint: the City Council has not yet developed a traffic plan for the holidays nor has it reactivated the restricted traffic zones (LTZs), making the application of predetermined surcharges unfair.
The acronyms FAST/ConfSal and SITAN/ATN UNIMPRESA have taken up the protest and have committed to bringing it to the consultative commission.
The dispute with the City of Naples has been going on for months. Drivers complain about a regulatory gap: limited traffic zones are not operating, the Christmas traffic plan is non-existent, and the city risks chaos during one of the most critical periods of the year. Predetermined fares are fixed rates for both users and taxi drivers.
"You can't ask to pay more for a service that has no rules," the trade committee explained. The protest thus turned into an official request for suspension, not indefinitely, but at least until Epiphany.
The schedule is tight. The advisory commission, initially scheduled for November 25th, has been postponed to December 10th. Despite the delay, the unions confirmed they will still submit their request.
The reason is technical: suspending predetermined tariffs doesn't require a complex bureaucratic process, but simply a provision from the relevant Department, signed by a representative of the Council. A possible shortcut, if there's the political will.
The rank-and-file members thanked the unions for their prompt response and sense of responsibility. They now await official feedback after the December 10th meeting. The goal is clear: no flat rates until Epiphany unless concrete responses arrive from Palazzo San Giacomo. With Christmas just around the corner, the battle is heating up.
Taxi drivers are threatening not to apply the surcharges, setting a precedent that could have repercussions beyond the holidays. The City Council will have to decide whether to accept the request or risk a new phase of tension with an already struggling industry.
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