Cabbies boo Tihipko, Brodsky, threaten nationwide strike

Addressing the convention, Vice Premier Serhy Tihipko told the delegates about his proposal to raise taxes on cabbies. “We want one-man businesses to make payments into social funds – the cabinet cannot pay pensions out of taxes collected from the budget sector employees,” Tihipko explained.

His remark caused a stir among the delegates who advised the cabinet not to levy more taxes on cabbies and, instead, generate more revenue by curbing rampant corruption.

The cabbies booed Mykhailo Brodsky, head of the state committee for regulatory policies and entrepreneurship, when the latter also supported higher taxes on cabbies.

The convention ruled to set up a work group for talks with the government. If the demands by the cabbies are not met, the group will continue as an organizing committee for a nationwide strike of taxi drivers.