The Almost-Strike


"They paved paradise
and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique,
and a swinging hot spot

Now don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone
They paved paradise
and put up a parking lot"
 - Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell 


It was early Thursday evening when the taxi drivers announced the strike. Since the decision would effect the whole city, it made the headline of all the local news outlets in Quito: School Canceled on Friday Because of Taxi Strike (Los Clases Estan Cancelado por Paro de Taxistas). Strikes can mean roads closed for protests. Plus, if people depend on taxis to get to work or school it complicates everything. Along with all the schools being closed, there was a special canceling of pico y placa for the day. Pico y placa is a system to try and help with the heavy traffic congestion plaguing the city. It means that every car has a day when it's not permitted to be driven; the day and time depends on the last number of your license plate. If caught driving during your designated time off the road, you'll receive a fine. But, with all the taxis off the road for a day, the normal restriction was lifted.

The strike was to rally for better pay for the drivers, and support from the taxi companies. In one evening, the whole city rearranged their plans for the next day. Then, just like that, it was called off.

"Strike Canceled at Midnight", read the morning's headlines. Apparently, the taxi drivers decided that they didn't want to lose a day of work, after all. "What a strange world," I mused.

The streets were their normal selves as I walked to Casa Gabriel and the bank the next day. Yellow taxis zoomed past, honking when empty, to get the attention of pedestrians. The only difference was the schools, which were silent that day. An unexpected day off, which turned out to be unnecessary. When I walked into Casa Gabriel, all the boys were busy deep-cleaning the kitchen. They bopped their heads in time to rap music while emptying and scrubbing the cabinets and fridge. I was in and out a couple of times, going to the bank and back. When I returned later that afternoon for a baking class, I found that they had completely rearranged the living room. They'd hauled the three couches to the other side of the room, switching places with the ancient television on the large wooden cabinet. I walked in, saw the change, and laughed. They like to rearrange more than any guys I've known.


There's been no new word about a re-scheduled taxi strike. If they decide to actually have one, a little warning would be nice, but perhaps that defeats some of the purpose. If they want a change then they need to make sure people see how necessary they are. However, Uber seems to be catching on quickly here. It will be interesting to see if that changes things. Change can arrive slowly, in little bits and pieces over time, or it can happen overnight, as quickly as the boys switching around the living room completely. It all depends.


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