Status: May 2nd, 2021 5:35 p.m.
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The US group Uber accuses an Argentine of damaging the global brand with her women’s taxi company Ubre. The driver contradicts – and does not want to admit defeat.
By Matthias Ebert,
ARD-Studio Rio de Janeiro
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Even before the pandemic began, Solange Barroso was in trouble. But at that time they had nothing to do with the global taxi giant Uber. The Argentine economy has been languishing for years, inflation is galloping. Solange has felt this for years. When the virus crisis broke out and strict lockdown measures were imposed in Argentina, the theater Solange was working on had to close. Then there were relationship problems – and so in the middle of the pandemic, the 36-year-old was suddenly without a job and as the single mother of her three-year-old daughter Almendra.
Matthias Ebert
ARD-Studio Rio de Janeiro
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A woman helps herself
Solange wanted to get out of this mess on his own. Solange definitely did not want to be dependent on welfare and soup kitchens like so many of her neighbors in Matanza, a poor suburb of Buenos Aires. So she and her daughter first moved into a smaller, cheaper apartment.
She later had the idea of founding a taxi company that only takes women. There is a need for this, Solange found, because violence against women has increased in Argentina during the pandemic. The months of domestic isolation resulted in increased violence against women and femicides.
Single parent Solange Barroso with the letter from Uber lawyers.
Image: Matthias Ebert
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Booking via WhatsApp
“As a driver, I feel safer to only chauffeur women,” says Solange as she drives through the dimly lit streets of Matanza at night. “I don’t take men with me because I know the risk for us women. Men are often violent and can kill women.” Mariela Torres gets in at an intersection. She booked this trip with Solange via WhatsApp. “I feel safer with a female driver,” says Mariela. “Because I’ve had bad experiences with drivers of apps like Uber. It’s more comfortable with a woman.”
When Solange thought about a name for her taxi company, she quickly came up with a name: Her one-woman business was to be called “Ubre” – in English “udder”. “The name seemed appropriate for a woman’s taxi,” says Solange. “Also because I love cows and used to milk them on my parents’ farm. I also recently weaned my child.” Solange said he hadn’t thought of the resemblance to the global taxi company Uber. And also not of the possibility that exactly this billion dollar mobility company would contact her in Matanza with a warning.
Threat by registered mail
It was a few weeks ago when a purple letter suddenly fluttered into Solange’s house by registered mail. An Uber lawyer threatens the single mother with consequences if she does not change her company name immediately. “They demand that I confirm this in writing. Because my operation would put Uber at a disadvantage.”
Solange was completely perplexed. She, who struggles to make a living with a few taxi rides for women, is now threatened with a lawsuit from the industry leader. Shortly thereafter, the anger rose in her: “Uber should first take care of its own problems. For example, when there are attacks on women in their taxis or when it comes to the miserable wages that the company pays.”
Daughter in the back seat
Because she feels that she has been treated unfairly, Solange Barroso does not want to back down for the time being. She switched on a lawyer friend and now has to defend herself legally. After all, she successfully entered her company name Ubre – as it should be – under this Spanish-speaking name and paying a fee in the Argentine company register.
She doesn’t want to give up, she wants to fight. Also as a taxi driver. With four trips a day, she can make ends meet. During the day, she also has to take her daughter with her in the back seat because the kindergarten is currently closed due to the pandemic. This is perfectly fine for the exclusively female passengers. They understand this situation.
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