Taxis are blockading major roads across France on Monday, demanding a renegotiation of patient transport fees from health insurance providers, sparking slow-traffic operations in Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux.
In Île-de-France, agricultural unions announced their intent to "lay siege" to the capital from 14:00 onwards, demanding a renegotiation of patient transport payment terms. A slow-traffic operation by taxis began early on Monday on the A13 heading towards Porte d'Auteuil on the ring road.
The French National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) has proposed a scheme which unions argue is unfairly weighted against them and which challenges the status quo. Taxi drivers fear that the new conditions may force them to give additional discounts on their prices for medical transport, as well as car-share patients.
In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, around 500 taxis mobilised in a slow-traffic operation on the Bordeaux ring road, according to the organisers and the prefecture. This is a key route between Paris and Spain which was already blockaded from last Wednesday to Friday by several hundreds of angry farmers.
The prefecture advised "working from home and limiting travel" on the Bordeaux ring road, a route used by 85,000 to 140,000 vehicles per day and frequently congested during peak hours.
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In Bouches-du-Rhône, meanwhile, taxis conducted two slow-traffic operations on Monday morning. One procession was heading towards the prefecture in central Marseille and the other on the A8 motorway near Aix-en-Provence, causing further congestion.
Taxi protests had already taken place across France on 11 December to protest against the new social security finance law, which pools medical patient journeys.
