French livery drivers strike against drop in earnings, Uber competition

PARIS – French livery drivers are protesting a drop in their rates, again striking out against what they say is unfair competition by Uber and other companies.

The drivers carried out a "Snail Operation" early Friday from Paris' airports into the centr, where they converged on a traffic circle at one of the entry points.

Livery drivers, most of whom ply the roads of Paris in black vehicles, cannot be hailed but are booked by telephone or online.

In recent months, most drivers have dropped their rates by 20 to 25 percent, Zoumana Karamoko, one of the drivers at the protest, told France Television. Taxis, another competing group of drivers, responded Friday by dropping their rates to a flat rate of 10 euros within the city.