In Marseille, a collective of VTC calls for strike to denounce their working conditions

The Union Drivers VTC Marseille will file a new strike notice in the coming days, while demonstrations will take place Tuesday in several cities. The Marseille collective denounces the commissions of platforms and notably requires better regulation of the sector.

VTC drivers are called upon to demonstrate, Tuesday, June 10, in several cities in France, with snail operations, notably planned in Nantes and Bordeaux. These drivers, who go through applications like Uber or Bolt to transport passengers, require better remuneration and better working conditions. They also denounce an increase in commissions taken on their races by platforms.

In Marseille, the demonstration was prohibited by the police headquarters. But the Union Drivers VTC Marseille will file a new notice in the coming days, because, according to this collective, it has become impossible to earn a living with the platforms. Even spending hours in his car, chaining shopping, it’s very complicated. “11.67 euros, Watch the driver. I do 10 km to recover (the customer), and the race is 8.2 km. It’s been almost 20 km for 11.67 euros. “

This VTC driver, who does not wish to give his name, calls himself Hedi. He has been practicing for ten years and uses Uber from time to time. “If I take this race now, I lose money, he deplores. At the time, they took charge of the distance between the customer’s driver, but this is no longer the case now. Another thing they no longer take care of is rush hour. Instead of making ten minutes estimated on the application, we will spend half an hour or three quarters of an hour in the traffic jams, the race will be paid for the same. “

This is why Hedi chooses his races, but some have no choice to accept. Benali Houari, president of the Union Drivers VTC Marseillais, continues to work ten hours a day, seven days a week for Uber. “If I do 100 euros per day, it’s been 700 euros per week. On this amount, if you remove the URSSAF, VAT, rental and recharge from the car, I have 100 euros. No thanks.” It denounces the very high commissions that the platform takes from its races: between 35% and 40% on average.

“Take up to 45% commission is theft, racketeering. At one point, you have to say stop.”

Benali Houari, president of the Union Drivers VTC Marseille

in franceinfo

Benali Houari estimates that there are 2,000 to 3,000 VTC drivers in Marseille, a figure that can go up to 6,000 during the summer. He requires regulation. “What to do is freeze (the number of drivers) In the immediate future, and see every year how many drivers have stopped the profession. As long as there are no departures, you should not add more. “

Departure, Benali Houari thinks more and more. “It is very possible that I stop this job within a few months. I made a bad choice, I should have taken taxi licenses in credit, in eight years it is already paid and there, I would be the owner of the licenses. While there, after eight years of activity, I will slam the door, a hand in front, a hand behind, and bye bye.” To avoid getting there, a collective of Marseille VTC drivers is working on a new application that would allow them to earn a better living.