Urban taxi drivers to block roads, start indefinite strike on Tuesday

Urban taxi drivers on Monday announced they will proceed with an indefinite strike starting Tuesday citing discrimination against them and saying that officers are trying to prevent them from crossing to the north for cheaper petrol.

Supported by the Pancyprian intercity taxis, the work stoppage will start at 6.30am on Tuesday with taxi drivers saying they will block certain roads in the capital with their cars.

In their announcement, taxi drivers mentioned “threatening and extortionate” treatment by an official of the finance ministry who “has committed indecent behaviours and actions towards professional taxi drivers”.

The decision to strike followed an impromptu protest on Saturday where a group of taxi drivers blocked the Ayios Dhometios crossing point with their cars for several hours.

The protest took place after a taxi driver attempted to cross to the north earlier that day and the Greek Cypriot officer asked to check the car’s tank to make sure he did not attempt to fill it with petrol.

Speaking on CyBC early on Monday, a taxi driver said officers threatened that they will confiscate his car if he crossed to the north and said professional taxi drivers should have “the same treatment as other individuals”.