In the last week, passengers arriving at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station have faced unusually long waits for a taxi—sometimes up to two hours. While taxis remain available just a few steps away in Piazza dell’Unità Italiana and Piazza Adua, many travelers, unaware of these alternative pick-up points, end up stuck in front of the main station with no information and no assistance.
What began as a normal service disruption has turned into what many are now calling a “phantom strike.” Since Friday April 11, the primary taxi stand at Santa Maria Novella has been nearly deserted, with only occasional cabs stopping briefly to drop off passengers. The issue seems to stem from growing tensions in the city’s transport sector, particularly around the recent arrival of Uber Taxi.
Taxi drivers have raised concerns about what they describe as increasing unauthorized activity among private hire vehicles (NCCs), particularly those using the Uber platform. They claim that these services often operate outside the rules, picking up passengers directly from the street—something only taxis are authorized to do. The arrival of Uber Taxi in Florence earlier this year, through a partnership with the new local consortium It Taxi Firenze, has only intensified these concerns. At its launch, only a small number of local taxis had joined the service.
In response, some drivers appear to be staging an informal protest by selectively withdrawing from service, particularly at the station—Florence’s busiest taxi hub. This disruption has caught the attention of national authorities. The Commission on the Right to Strike has asked local officials to provide documentation of the delays and possible violations of public service obligations.
Florence’s mayor and prefect are now under pressure to clarify the situation. The city’s prefect, Francesca Ferrandino, has publicly criticized the unofficial strike, describing it as a disservice to the city and a burden on vulnerable residents, including those with medical needs. She emphasized that any labor protest must comply with national laws regulating strikes in essential services.
Meanwhile, representatives from the taxi sector argue that the real issue lies in the lack of enforcement against what they view as illegal practices by some NCC operators. They point to Uber’s algorithm-driven pricing, which can cause fares to spike sharply during periods of high demand, in stark contrast to the fixed rates that apply to traditional taxi services. For example, a journey from the train station to the airport—officially priced at €28 for a taxi—can cost more than €60 when booked through Uber at peak times.
The city council has pledged to strengthen controls and ensure all operators follow the rules. Officials insist that their aim is not to punish any particular category of drivers but to guarantee fair competition and a reliable service for users. Talks are underway to find a sustainable balance between traditional taxis and emerging mobility platforms. Still, the stand-off may continue, especially with a formal strike now rescheduled for April 28.
Until then, Florence’s visitors and residents are advised to plan ahead, use official taxi apps or phone booking services, and consider alternative pick-up locations—at least while the main stand at Santa Maria Novella remains mostly empty.
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