Taxi strike in Kolkata opens the doors for Uber and Ola cabs

Taxi strikes are very common in Kolkata and the strikes catch the people unawares, especially those who arrive in the city by train or by flight. The taxi unions owe allegiance to different trade unions and, at the drop of a hat, they go off the streets.
The AITUC which is the CPI's trade union wing, has about 3,500 of the city's 35,000 taxis affiliated to it and they went off while other taxi unions supported their cause.
The latest such strike is about the encroachment of app cabs like Uber and Ola cabs who have entered the scene. They have become a viable option for the harassed people. But, they pose a challenge to the regular taxi services because of their easy availability – they do not need to come to taxi sands but can pick up the passenger from anywhere based on his call.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 12 June 2015.

The AITUC took full credit for the "successful strike". But, there is apprehension among the ranks of the drivers – they realize that app cabs are becoming a major threat and needs to be tackled. As a senior member of a taxi union has remarked - this is an issue that affects all of us irrespective of our political affiliations.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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