Transportation

Taxi union sets deadline for torrijos

The Unión Nacional de Bases Taxistas y Transporte Público (Unbatt) has set a 30-day deadline for President Martín Torrijos to respond to a list of concerns the organization created in response to increasing fuel prices.

The decision to set the deadline was made at a meeting yesterday that included leaders from 28 taxi associations.

The union is seeking a response from the president about the implementation of new taxi rates, as well as gasoline subsidies, preferential interest rates for new vehicles and a price freeze on spare parts.

Unbatt General Secretary Marcos González explained that drivers are having a hard time staying in business with gasoline prices rising to more than $4 a gallon.

The Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre approved a rate increase in February, but they have not yet gone into effect because they have not been published in the government Gazette, a requirement before any change can be implemented.

The union says that it will begin charging the new fares in 30 days, regardless of whether or not they have been published, unless Torrijos agrees to meet with them about the other outstanding issues.