Taxi protest on airport fee and fare changes

A work stoppage today by Dublin taxi drivers starts at 6am and culminates in a protest convoy travelling from Phoenix Park to the taxi regulator's office in Fitzwilliam Square.

It is the third stoppage since July in protest at airport fee changes due to come into force at midnight on September 24th. But unlike the previous 24-hour strikes, drivers go back to work at 1pm today.

This latest protest follows a decision by the taxi regulator Ger Deering not to address a mass meeting of drivers last month.

The drivers are also in a separate dispute with the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) about proposals to charge drivers using the airport an annual €500 fee, and unions have instructed members not to fill in the permit application forms. A meeting with the DAA is expected on Thursday with members of the three main taxi unions, the National Taxi Drivers' Union (NTDU), the Taxi Drivers' Federation and Siptu.

"We are at war now on two fronts," said NTDU president Tommy Gorman.

Drivers have threatened to stop work during the Ryder Cup.

"We know it is a very sensitive and prestigious event and we will behave intelligently and professionally, but I don't think we are left with any alternative."

The unions are also protesting against the taxi regulator's decision to end the practice of charging extra for luggage and a pick-up charge at the airport.

Driver unions expect between 500 and 1,000 drivers to attend today's rally.

Pickets at Dublin airport start at 6am and will be withdrawn at 10am to allow drivers get to the Phoenix Park assembly point at the Papal Cross. The convoy is then expected to move from the Phoenix Park at around 11am to 11.30am along the quays to the city centre and up to Fitzwilliam Square to the regulator's office, where they will hold a rally and hand in a letter.

Mr Gorman said the letter would point out that many of the proposals in the regulator's restructuring of the taxi industry appeared unlikely to go ahead by the September 24th deadline, including the takeover by National Car Test (NCT) services of the issuing of licences to taxi drivers, because of a pay dispute at NCT.

The NTDU president also warned that the "real rebellion" would occur in regional areas when the new national minimum charge was introduced for all towns and cities, making the entire country one taximeter area. The new minimum charge would mean an increase for Dublin drivers from €3.40 to €3.80 during the day and a rise to €4.10 from €3.70 after 8pm.

Regional taxi drivers say it represents a 20 per cent drop in their income from a €6.50 minimum.

He added that "the 24th/25th September is going to bring an awful lot to a head across the country" as changes were introduced. Killarney, Tralee, Sligo, Longford, Waterford, Carlow, Drogheda and Cork airport would also be affected, he said.

"Cork airport used to be outside the meter area and the charge to Kinsale was €35. Now it will be €22 even though the driver has to get back with no fare."