FRANCE:FRENCH TAXI DRIVERS CONTINUE THEIR PROTEST ABOUT FUEL PRICES AS TRUCK OWNERS ASK GOVERNMENT TO RESUME TALKS WITH STRIKING UNIONS

Record ID: 648300

  • Title: FRANCE:FRENCH TAXI DRIVERS CONTINUE THEIR PROTEST ABOUT FUEL PRICES AS TRUCK OWNERS ASK GOVERNMENT TO RESUME TALKS WITH STRIKING UNIONS
  • Date: 7th September 2000
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 7 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF LINE OF TAXIS ON MAIN A1 MOTORWAY HEADING TOWARDS PARIS AT THE HEAD OF A GO SLOW PROTEST (3 SHOTS) 0.27 2. VARIOUS, TRAVELLING SHOT OF SNARLED TRAFFIC BEHIND PROTEST 1.08 3. VARIOUS TOP VIEWS OF PROTEST WITH TAXIS SOUNDING THEIR HORNS ALONG MOTORWAY (4 SHOTS) 1.48 4. VARIOUS, AMBULANCES STAGING THEIR OWN GO SLOW PROTEST SOUNDING THEIR SIRENS (3 SHOTS) 2.21 5. SLV BANNER ON SIDE OF AMBULANCE: WE ARE THE EUROPEAN (SOCCER) CHAMPIONS. THE STATE IS THE CHAMPION OF TAXATION 2.30 6. WIDE OF EMPTY LANE OF MOTORWAY 2.37 7. VARIOUS OF PROTESTING AMBULANCES SOUNDING SIRENS 3.15 8. VARIOUS OF CENTRAL PARIS - PARKED TAXIS AT THE END OF THEIR DEMONSTRATION UNDER THE EIFFEL TOWER (3 SHOTS) 3.32 9. VARIOUS OF TAXIS. NOTE BANNERS SAYING NO TO PARIS TAXI SLAVERY (2 SHOTS) 3.50 10. WIDE OF CENTRAL PARIS ELF PETROL STATION. 3.56 11. CLOSE UP OF PETROL PUMP WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF PETROL ALL SOLD OUT 4.00 12. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) PETROL STATION ATTENDANT SAMIR: "We've broken the record. It's certainly not like normal times. It isn't stopping. But now it's going to be quieter - because we've run out of gasoil" 4.13 13. SMV PANEL SHOWING PRICES AT ELF GARAGE 4.17 14. SLV MAN WALKING PAST ELF GARAGE 4.20 15. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) RENE PETIT, PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL HAULIERS ASSOCIATION FNTR, SAYING: The Prime Minister said there was not going to be any further negotation on the topic. So today, there is no longer any dialogue. There is a desire to reach a deal, but I repeat that this deal passes by the need to restore dialogue" / (CUTAWAY MEDIA (3 SH0TS) 4.48 16. SCU SOUNDBITE (French) DENEUVILLE, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF FNTR TALKING ABOUT THE SITUATION 5.09 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA9LZ1Y41HN0O6X2T141VHH5UDI
  • Story Text: France's taxi drivers have moved to the front line of
    protest as demonstrators tightened their stranglehold on fuel
    supplies in protest against increased taxes. Truck owners
    meanwhile asked the government to resume talks with the
    various striking unions.



    Taxi drivers blocked highways leading into Paris
    on Thursday (September 7) during a massive go-slow protest,
    pressing Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to give them
    the same tax cuts won by fishermen last week and offered to
    truck owners this week.

    Thousands of vehicles found themselves blocked for hours
    on the busy highways, blocked by groups of taxi drivers moving
    at snails pace. Ambulance drivers also joined in the protest.

    Some of the taxis later converged on the Camps de Mars,
    across from the Eiffel tower where they stayed parked.

    About 80 percent of all petrol stations in France were
    reported to be either dry or under tight rationing because
    truckers and farmers blocked refineries and depots. Stations
    were also shutting in Paris, the area least hit by the
    protest.

    Hoping to stop the chain reaction of demands from sectors
    dependent on diesel and petrol, Jospin put his foot down on
    Wednesday, declaring the government could go no further than
    the 15 percent diesel tax cut offered to the truck owners.

    His firm stand only strengthened the protesters resolve to
    keep up the fight until the government caved in. The truck
    owners have demanded a 20 percent cut in diesel tax.

    FNTR head Rene Petit told a press conference on Thursday
    (September 7) that Jospin's decision to put an end to the
    negotiations came as a time when the sides were close to reach
    an agreement, and called for the immediate resumption of the
    talks.

    (sw/


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