Taximen to drive home point with Ryder Cup

THE three unions representing thousands of the country’s taxi drivers will meet early next week to decide how much they will disrupt service to the Ryder Cup.

At a national meeting in Dublin on Wednesday drivers voted unanimously in favour of industrial action to coincide with the Ryder Cup, as well as refusing to pay a €500 fee to use the Dublin Airport taxi rank.

The protest is in response to measures being introduced by the taxi regulator, Ger Deering, which drivers say are hitting them in the pocket. Those measures come into effect on September 25.

In the last month drivers have held two one-day stoppages in protest at the regulator’s stance.

Yesterday, National Taxi Drivers Union president Tommy Gorman said the decision to refuse to pay the fee to Dublin Airport had been ‘set in stone’ and the executives of the three unions, the NTDU, SIPTU and the Irish Taxi Driver Federation, would meet next Monday or Tuesday to determine the extent of the disruption to services around the time of the Ryder Cup.

He said the action would be “constructive and professional”, adding that he realised it was a very lucrative event for the country.

The Government and tourism industry have condemned the potential disrupt of one of the biggest sports events in the world.

Minister for Sport and Tourism John O’Donoghue said he was “disappointed” at the threatened work stoppage, adding it could damage Ireland’s tourism potential.

Irish Hotels Federation president Annette Devine, said: “It will cause huge disruption to those aiming to attend, present a negative image of Ireland to overseas visitors and effectively hold the country to ransom. No sector should be putting its own interests ahead of the greater national interests. Ireland has much to gain from this event, both in the short term and longer term, but only if all sectors work together to make it a success.”

Meanwhile, Tommy Gorman has revealed the unions are working on a publicity campaign to illustrate exactly how drivers around the country will be disadvantaged by the regulator’s measures, and making it clear that it is not just a Dublin issue. He said an advert would be placed in the national press next week.

“You are going to see real rebellion within the industry when these measures come into force on September 25,” he added.

On the major bone of contention, no rise in fares for the next two years, Mr Gorman said: “If he wants to save any kind of face he should bring in a fare increase within the next six months. He should begin that process now as it would take three months.”

Q&A - Why taxi drivers are unhappy with the new regulatory regime

Why have taxi drivers voted in favour of industrial action to coincide with the Ryder Cup next month?

They are unhappy at measures taxi regulator Ger Deering is introducing from September 25 which they claim are going to hit the drivers hard in the pocket.

They claim they have not received a fare increase for two years and have been told they cannot expect one for another two years, despite the rising cost of cars, fuel and running costs.

Drivers in Dublin are also angry because the new structure being introduced sees the abolition of 50c-per-item luggage charges and a €1.50 hiring charge at Dublin Airport. That will cost those who rely on the airport business up to 4,500 per year according to the NTDU.

What measures is Ger Deering introducing that the drivers oppose?

From September 25, drivers must run every fare through the meter under a new nationwide rather than regional fare structure.

Every driver will have to display a national vehicle license to replace local authority numbering which makes vehicles harder to identify. The new five digit number will be unique.

New and existing drivers will have to sit a mandatory driver skills development programme and a refresher course will be compulsory for the renewal of a licence every three years.

Why are the taxi drivers unhappy with these measures?

Tommy Gorman of the National Taxi Drivers Union says that drivers will lose out financially because of the compulsory running of the meter at the national rate, particularly when passing between local authority areas.

“For example, 85% of the drivers leaving Cork Airport work off the clock giving a set fare for the journey,” he said. “Under the current scheme a journey to Kinsale would cost €35. From September 25, it will be €23.”

Also, as the meter cannot be started until the customer gets into the car, it will not be viable to pick up fares a distance away from city bases to take customers short distances.

The licensing system is being opposed because plates will no longer show where a taxi comes from, and cabs from outside an area could poach trade in neighbouring counties. Drivers are also opposed to the mandatory skills test.

What other measures is the regulator introducing?

The regulator’s new enforcement measures are to include:

Immediate on the spot fines of 250 for breaches of regulations.

New national complaints process for public.

Cars may no longer be multi-licenced as a taxi, hackney and limousine, as is the case at the moment.

They can only be licensed for one function.

Who will benefit from the measures and who will lose out?

The regulator claims both customers and drivers will benefit. Customers will not be overcharged and can expect a more regulated service resulting in more use of taxis.

Tommy Gorman claims drivers lose out because they cannot expect a fare increase for another two years.

Customers could lose out as drivers will be less willing to collect if they are a distance from the base.