France hit by day of protest as security forces fire teargas at taxi strike
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/26/french-taxi-drivers-block-paris-roads-in-uber-protest
Police have arrested 20 people as striking taxi drivers staged protests across France over competition from non-traditional car services such as Uber, with security forces firing teargas at crowds in an effort to maintain order.
At least 2,000 taxi drivers protested on Tuesday, disrupting traffic across France, including around Paris airports and national railway stations. Two people were injured at Orly airport when a shuttle bus tried to force its way past a taxi drivers’ blockade.
The taxi protests were the most explosive in a day of much broader national strike action, which marked the latest challenge to the Socialist government amid accusations that it is only half-heartedly tackling the state of France’s stuttering economy and sclerotic jobs market.
Taking part in the wider industrial action were teachers, doctors, air traffic controllers, hospital workers, public-sector workers and farmers demanding better prices for livestock. Public-sector protesters accused the government of failing to address the shrinking purchasing power of state workers and deal with working conditions in schools and hospitals.
