'Stolen 30 years of my work': Cabbies storm Parliament in pay fight
Taxi owners and drivers have almost overpowered police as they tried to storm Melbourne’s state parliament on Thursday.
The cabbies and their families are angry Uber is taking away their livelihoods, and have demanded Premier Daniel Andrews take action.
“You come outside now,” one passionate woman yelled to Premier Andrews.
Between 300 and 400 people made their point heard with taxis parked across Spring Street, blocking traffic and trams.
“They have stolen 30 years of my work,” Sandy Spanos said on the Parliament's steps.
“I will leave my children with a legacy of debt.”
Organisers screamed for calm as the massive group tried to push past officers who called for back up.
In the crush, four people collapsed as officers linked arms in front of Parliament's doors.
“It’s a big deal,” driver Lou Bougias said.
“We all know that storming into Parliament without permission is treason.
“People used to get hung and beheaded for that. Who would’ve imagined you’d get 80-year-old taxi drivers doing it?”
The protest came on the same day parliament debated a $2 Uber surcharge, to pay for the cabbies’ compensation scheme.
The scheme pays owners $100,000 for their first cab licence and $50,000 for the ones thereafter.
Police say there were no arrests in Thursday’s protest, but organisers have warned it won’t be the last unless state government steps in.