Ride-share companies Uber and Cabify have temporarily suspended operations in Barcelona over attacks suffered during today's taxi strike. Drivers are striking over a court verdict supporting VTC license users, the kind required to work for the two companies.
The suspension was announced by the Unión Nacional de Autoturismos VTC union (Unauto VTC). Unauto said that the violence seen today on the streets of Barcelona is extremely serious, given that not only vehicles working for the two companies have been attacked, but also drivers and even some passengers. They say they've been forced to stop all activity until the situation "returns to normal".
"We want to express our full support for all the drivers attacked in Barcelona today and for the thousands of VTC drivers around Spain. Likewise, we apologise to the thousands of passengers who trust us to travel around the city every day," says the statement. Unauto VTC says they will cooperate with the authorities so that those responsible are arrested and put on trial. They also ask for the police to protect their workers, who "see their physical safety ever more markedly endangered".
Numerous social medias have shared videos of today's violence against VTC vehicles.
Taxi drivers are on strike in the Catalan capital this Wednesday in opposition to what they see as "disloyal and illegal" growing competition. No taxi has served the streets of Barcelona today; the only ones to be seen have been among the hundreds of drivers taking part in the demonstration. The protesters weren't just from Barcelona and surroundings, but also from Madrid, Valencia, Navarre, Malaga and Alacant. A day the organisers have described as "historic".
The VTC union, for its part, expresses regret that the court's decision isn't being respected and accuses the taxi drivers of organising a "great standstill" to bring pressure against the measure.