Brussels-Capital Region taxis will file a collective legal action against Uber for unfair competition, the collective Taxis Bruxelles Unis announced on Monday.
In February 2024, Belgian courts ruled that Uber had operated illegally in the Brussels-Capital Region between 3 September 2015 and 10 December 2021.
The taxi professional organisations GTL, BTF, Taxis Bleus, Igoboka-Taxi, Elite Taxi, and Collectif des Travailleurs du Taxi have united to demand compensation through collective action.
"Beyond seeking compensation for the damages inflicted by Uber, it’s also about highlighting abuses by companies that parasitise the economy," said Cédric Dubucq, one of the collective’s lawyers. "Their drivers don’t pay taxes or social contributions and do not comply with specific transport laws," he added.
Collective action allows multiple victims of the same issue to join forces, increasing their impact and sharing legal costs. Over 10% of professionals in the Brussels-Capital region have already joined the action, according to the Taxis Bruxelles Unis.
"This action allows us, the taxi operators, to reclaim what was stolen from us: money, as well as hours of work and days of life," stated General-Secretary of the Brussels Taxi Federation (BFT) Sam Bouchal.
