Several hundred taxi and limousine drivers from all over the province converged on downtown Montreal Sunday afternoon for an emergency meeting.
The Regroupement des travailleurs autonomes Métallos (RTAM), representing about 4,000 taxi and limo drivers in Quebec, called for the meeting following a last-minute deal reached between Uber and the Quebec government earlier this week.
WATCH BELOW: Deal reached in Uber-Quebec dispute
The union has referred to the deal as an act of treason saying it would impoverish taxi drivers in the province.
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While all options were on the table, a general strike mandate has been ruled out for now.
Unions instead decided to pursue legal action including bringing the Quebec government to court over the deal.
RTMA spokesperson Benoit Jugand said the taxi unions are unified in their decision to pursue legal action.
“This is the legal action of the taxi industry,” Jugand said to the crowd.
Jugand demanded that transport minister, Laurent Lessard, meet with unions on Monday at 2 p.m.
“A general strike is not off the table, but let’s start by meeting with the minister.” said Jugand. “Let’s do things right.”
But cracks in the show of unity became apparent when one taxi driver under the alias “The Sheriff” called out the unions for not going far enough.
READ MORE: Montreal taxi sheriff confronts Uber driver, smashes cellphone in protest
He said, the unions are only pushing their own agenda and he is willing to take extreme measures if necessary.
“If I find people that have the courage to flip the car, I would flip it,” said the driver. “I don’t care anymore.”
The so-called Sheriff tried to incite other drivers into a spontaneous protest at the Montreal casino, but seemed to have failed in his attempt.
Meanwhile taxi drivers who want to conduct spontaneous strikes won’t be stopped.
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