The high cost of fuel manages to bring even taxi drivers and NCC to an agreement. The two categories, which have always been at odds with each other, demonstrated together for the first time, in front of the Ministry of Transport. They are both asking the government for tax-free fuel and incentives for the purchase of eco-friendly cars. Meanwhile, the prices of petrol and diesel remain stable: 2.018 euros per liter for self-service petrol on ordinary roads (2.019 yesterday’s price), 2.261 euros for diesel (at the same level as yesterday). Q8 has announced the extension of its price cap until December 31st. Around 300 drivers from itTaxi, Uri and Unicoop for taxi drivers, from the Muoversi coordination for Ncc, gathered in front of the MIT in Porta Pia. They held a peaceful demonstration from 10am to 1pm, without smoke bombs or obstructions to traffic. They asked for a meeting with the minister Matteo Salvini or with the deputy Edoardo Rixi, to present their requests. In the absence of the two politicians, they were received by officials from the MIT Trade Union Observatory. In the next few days, they specified, they hope to be able to see Salvini. «The price of fuel has increased by 40%, but we taxi drivers have the rates blocked by the Municipalities – explained Andrea Teruzzi, a Milanese taxi driver -. We ask to reduce our costs, so as not to penalize users.” For Loreno Bittarelli, president of itTaxi and historic leader of taxi drivers, «the requests are those of the adoption of professional fuel (tax-free, ed.), as happens in other European countries, and incentives for the transformation of the fleet into ecological cars, therefore electric and hybrid. Professional fuel is a structural measure, it is not an emergency measure. Clearly it would make our work easier, but it would also reduce costs for users.”
But the novelty of the garrison at the MIT was the presence together of taxi drivers and NCC. «The differences between us do not disappear, but today something historic happened here – commented the president of Muoversi, Andrea Romano -. There had never been a mobilization together. Those who wish harm to this sector want us to continue arguing. But there are battles to fight together. Today is the starting point.” Today’s demonstration was missing the taxi drivers’ organizations linked to the confederal and autonomous unions, which were critical of itTaxi. They will see each other tomorrow in Florence, still on expensive fuel. Bittarelli doesn’t spare a jab against them: «They are the ones with the road blocks and the interruption of service, the firecrackers and the smoke bombs. We are the ones who are here demonstrating with strength and determination, but in peace, without causing inconvenience.”