Taxi cooperatives from across Lanzarote, with the exception of Arrecife, have announced plans to stage a strike during Easter Week in protest against what they describe as an attempt by the island’s governing body, the Cabildo, to centralise and control the sector without proper consultation.
Speaking on Hoy por Hoy Lanzarote, representatives from the Ajei Cooperative (San Bartolomé) and Norte y Sur Cooperative (northern and southern Lanzarote) expressed their frustration with the coalition government, claiming that the Cabildo’s approach lacks transparency and fails to address the pressing needs of the taxi sector.
According to Juan Manuel Pomar, president of the Norte y Sur Cooperative, the current taxi service is under increasing strain due to rising demand. “The population has grown, tourism has increased, and yet we have fewer licences. Everything has grown except the taxi sector. We are forced to work more hours just to maintain a decent service, and the blame for any shortcomings cannot be placed on taxi drivers,” he stated.
Pomar added that requests had been submitted to several local councils to conduct studies on issuing new taxi licences, but these efforts have been ignored.
The planned strike, set to take place from Monday to Thursday during Easter Week, comes after repeated attempts to engage with local authorities. “We sent formal notifications to the Cabildo and various councils on 28th March informing them of our intention to strike, but no one has responded. That is deeply concerning,” Pomar said. “This is not a bluff. The Cabildo wants to control the sector, and we cannot accept that.”
One of the core issues driving the protest is the Cabildo’s reported plan to centralise all taxi operations through a single dispatch centre based in Arrecife. While the cooperatives are not entirely opposed to the idea, they insist that such a system must be run by the taxi sector itself rather than by political institutions. “We’re not against a central hub, but it has to be managed by taxi drivers — not by the Cabildo or the councils,” Pomar emphasised.
Echeide Padrón, president of the Ajei Cooperative, supported this stance, saying, “We’re willing to collaborate with institutions, but it’s the drivers who keep this sector going. We’ll provide minimum services during the strike, but we can’t predict how the situation will unfold.”
Padrón also pointed out that the last official meeting between the cooperatives and the authorities took place in December 2024, contradicting recent public statements suggesting ongoing dialogue. “They’ve claimed in the media that they’ve met with us, but that’s simply not true,” he said.
The cooperatives further allege political interference, claiming that meetings have been selectively held with municipalities aligned with the ruling coalition. “They’re confusing the sector with empty promises. When people lack information, it’s easy for politicians to step in and sell illusions that don’t match reality,” Pomar warned.
He concluded by accusing the Cabildo of “deception and concealment,” stressing that any move toward centralisation must be a decision made by the cooperatives themselves. “We don’t want to be forced into Arrecife. We’re open to agreements, but they must be shaped by the sector — not imposed by the Cabildo.”
