Taxi drivers and Uber supporters exchange boos at hearing.

Deborah Fogliatto, On the 21 - The proposal to regulate passenger transport by apps, such as Uber, was debated in a public hearing at Gigantinho on Tuesday night (5), with a reinforced security system, but without registering any disturbances or confusion. The discussion, however, was marked by disagreements between taxi drivers and Uber drivers and supporters, with arguments on one side about the illegal and multinational nature of the company, in opposition to requests for greater market freedom and arguments about the quality of services. The bill prepared by the Executive establishes a series of rules for the company to operate legally.

Among the requirements is that driver data be made available to the City Hall, in addition to the collection of taxes at higher rates than those levied on taxi drivers. The proposal includes a monthly fee per vehicle, payable by the company, of R$ 182,50, and a 5% tax rate on Services of Any Nature (ISS) based on its revenue. Another requirement is that registered vehicles must have license plates from Porto Alegre.

During the hearing, ten people defended Uber and ten opposed it, following explanations given by the president of the Public Transportation and Circulation Company (EPTC), Vanderlei Cappellari. Starting at 18 PM, an hour before the scheduled time, taxi drivers were already arriving at the stands, holding signs with slogans such as "no to illegal taxis" and "no to the extinction of taxis." Many wore blue shirts, a color that had been designated as the uniform for taxi drivers, but whose use ultimately did not become law. On the opposing side, proponents of the app-based transportation system called for "more modern cities" and "less state intervention, more freedom."

Uber's Government Relations Manager, Gabriel Petrus, stated that the company agrees with most of the points raised in the bill. "Uber doesn't compete with taxis; the real competitor is the private car. Its objective is to promote efficiency gains for existing cars, which here, as in the rest of the world, are underutilized. Therefore, the supply of services should be freely balanced according to the population's choice," he argued. During his speech, the taxi drivers present turned their backs to the stage, demonstrating their disagreement with what was being said.

Both proponents and opponents of Uber booed the opposing side throughout the speeches, which included arguments addressing the Constitution, personal freedoms, "wild" capitalism, Brazilian nationalism in the face of an American company, class differences, and accusations from both sides that the others were victims of "slave labor." The discussion lasted about three hours, mediated by the president of the City Council, Cássio Trogildo (PTB), who proposed the debate.

An Uber driver highlighted the empowering aspect of the possibility of supplementing her income, which she, like other women, has had since the app arrived. She said that she used to drive a lot and knew the city well, which she is now using for work. “There’s no price that can pay for the smile of a passenger who gets into an Uber car. I do this work with the greatest joy and pride. Doing a job for many years is no guarantee that it will be done in a better way. I want the city to move in a better way, to contribute to mobility,” she stated.

Taxi driver Paulo Adir Ferreira stated that the Constitution provides for freedom, but religious freedom, not business freedom. “The country's authorities are not enforcing it; it's unacceptable that a country allows the federal taxi law to be ignored. And it's unacceptable that the City Hall is negotiating with this veritable sect that comes from abroad and has problems in every country it goes through, and respects no one,” he said. Similarly, Jorge Eurites said he was “ashamed that Brazil is bowing down to an American company” and argued that Anatel (the Brazilian telecommunications agency) should block the app in the country.

Fellow taxi driver Antônio Carlos Abreu, known as Toninho by other taxi drivers, stated that the majority of Porto Alegre's population still uses taxis. "Our fleet carries 157 passengers in 24 hours, three times more than Uber. That's the majority of the population, not just a handful who use credit cards. We're the ones who transport the population," he asserted.