Taxi drivers staged two protests in Dublin today in their campaign for an appeals process and their calls for a moratorium on the issuing of licences.
The Siptu drivers, who have staged protests on several occasions in recent weeks, gathered at the main roundabout near the airport at 11am for the three-hour protest to express their concerns about the future of the taxi industry.
The drivers believe they are being denied their rights as there is no appeals process in relation to decisions taken by the taxi regulator. They are also calling for a moratorium on taxi licences.
Taxi drivers claim that since the deregulation of licensing in 2000 the number of taxis in Dublin alone has become ridiculous, with trade union Siptu estimating the figure has increased from approximately 2,000 to 25,000.
Siptu said the economic downturn has driven many newly redundant people into the taxi industry and that competition for fares is making it almost impossible for many drivers to earn a living without working lengthy hours.
Another protest took place in Dubin city centre. This protest was organised by an "ad-hoc committee" of drivers and has not been sanctioned by Siptu, a union spokesman said.
Siptu’s taxi branch organiser Jerry Brennan said the protests have been a great success to date. “We are protesting because, unlike virtually every other group in the workforce, taxi drivers have no right of appeal from decisions by the regulator under the Taxi Regulation Act of 2003,” he said.
“We’re not out to disrupt the public. We’re not intruding on the day-to-day running of other business and we have the full support of the taxi driver fraternity. All they’re looking for is fair play.”
Mr Brennan said taxi drivers believe it is unfair they are not entitled to appeal decisions affecting their working conditions to the Labour Court or the Labour Relations Commission.
He also said some “silly decisions” are being made by the tax regulator and that “frustrated” drivers want Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to establish a process that allows them to air their grievances.
“There is a new rule in place that states every taxi driver has to have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher in their car. The regulator said we have to buy them, but when asked it said we will not be given training on how to give first aid. I was told that we don’t have to use it, we just have to have it,” Mr Brennan said. “I asked Dublin Fire Brigade about the extinguishers. I was told that if a car goes on fire, you should get away from it as quickly as possible and let professionals handle the situation. It’s rules like these that we feel don’t make sense and should be appealed.”
Taxi drivers protested at Dublin airport last Friday and also demonstrated outside the Department of Transport on Thursday before handing a letter into Mr Dempsey’s office.
Mr Brennan said Mr Dempsey is the only person who can bring the matter to an end, but that there is no sign of a resolution being reached at present.
He said the protests will continue until progress is made and that the drivers are planning to move their campaign to another location in the city next week.
Taxi services will operate as normal at the airport while the demonstration takes place today, an industry spokesman said last night.