12,000 taxi drivers in second national stoppage

More than 90 per cent of taxi drivers in Dublin stopped work yesterday in the second protest in a fortnight over changes to the taxi industry, according to their union leaders.

However, there was less disruption elsewhere in the State.

Taxi regulator Ger Deering said slightly more drivers worked than during the last stoppage on July 17th. He said many drivers had contacted his office to say they wanted to work but did not because of fears of intimidation.

With no sign of any compromise between the taxi unions and Mr Deering, further disruption is likely, with the possibility that the Ryder Cup will be targeted in future stoppages.

Members of the three main taxi unions - the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation, the National Taxi Drivers Union and Siptu - will meet on August 16th to decide what further action to take.

About 12,000 of the State's 17,000 taxi drivers stopped work between 5am yesterday and 5am today in protest at changes introduced by Mr Deering.

These include a new fare structure which includes the abolition of luggage charges, a €1.50 hiring charge for picking up passengers from Dublin airport and a new licence plate numbering system.

No taxis were available yesterday at Dublin's main ranks, most of which were manned by small groups of picketing drivers. However a small number of taxis could be seen operating in the city, some with their signs removed.

Aircoach and Dublin Bus laid on extra buses to the airport but a spokesman for Aircoach said business was quieter than during the last stoppage.

The Taxi Drivers Federation president John Ussher said "90-odd" per cent of taxi drivers had stopped work for the day.

"This sends a loud and clear message to the taxi regulator that his changes are not welcome. Mr Deering will talk but he won't change his position and so we're not prepared to go into talks with this pre-condition."

Mr Deering expressed doubt about the mandate enjoyed by the taxi unions for the stoppages and said he hoped "moderate voices" within the unions who agreed with his changes would now be heard.

The changes had come from a major consultation process in which 500 submissions had been received and the unions had been fully involved, he pointed out. "They didn't get everything they wanted but you can't allow any one group to exercise a veto."

He likened the drivers' action to the banks threatening to close down because they did not like a decision of the financial regulator. "Penalising your customers is hardly a logical way to do things."

Mr Deering said 80 per cent of drivers had already changed to the new licensing system. Many meters were already pre-programmed to change to the new fare structure to be introduced on September 25th.

Taxi drivers in Galway city did not participate in the stoppage, emphasising that the race festival week had no bearing on this decision.

Most drivers in Galway are members of the Western Taxi Drivers Alliance, which is not affiliated to the National Taxi Drivers Union. An alliance representative said nobody had contacted them about the action.

In Cork, taxi drivers who halted work parked their cars on the multiple ranks on St Patrick Street and Parnell Square.