VTC Anger: Prefect Forbids Protest Near Nice Airport and Monte-Carlo Rally Routes

The prefect of Alpes-Maritimes has issued an order prohibiting the Union of VTC (Chauffeured Transportation) drivers from the Azur and Var regions from staging a protest from Monday at 6 a.m. until Thursday at midnight on all roads and in the vicinity of roads used for the Monte-Carlo Rally.

Originally, the VTC Union had submitted a request for permission to hold a static gathering near the airport, where they intended to denounce certain practices. However, this request was denied, and the surrounding streets, including those near Monaco, Roquebrune, the Saint-Isidore exit, as well as the departmental road in the municipalities of Malaussène, Villars, and Puget-Théniers, are now off-limits to them. The prefect justifies this restriction to prevent « disruption of the sporting event. »

Despite this decision, the Union of VTC 06 and 83 responded with surprise: « We were not aware that the order had been issued! Less than 48 hours before our protest, they could have informed us so that we could suspend the organization, » said Sabrina, the president of the drivers’ union. She emphasized, « Our notice is still under review. » The VTC drivers will not back down; « It is still on our end; there will be a mobilization, we will just reorganize based on the prohibitions. »

VTC drivers are demanding the implementation of a numerus clausus to limit the entry of new drivers. In the French Riviera, they claim to number 7,000 and denounce an agreement with Uber, which, according to them, seeks to increase this number. They also demand a better consideration of pricing by platforms and an improvement in working conditions.