Taxi protest to cause disruption at Dublin airport
The action is aimed in particular at business passengers travelling into the city for work and is in protest, according to the union, at the lack of rights for drivers to appeal decisions taken by the industry regulator.
From 7.00am to 11.00am drivers will arrive up to the airport with passengers but once they drop off and move towards to the taxi holding area they will be asked by SIPTU not to proceed to the main passenger pick-up area.
Ryanair said the action constituted a strike and called on SIPTU to relocate it from the airport, as it said airline passengers should not be blackmailed by taxi drivers. It also called on the Dublin Airport Authority and Government to ensure the airport would operate as normal this morning.
Jerry Brennan of SIPTU said the action was a protest and not a strike, and that Ryanair was trying to turn public opinion against the drivers.
“We are protesting tomorrow 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,” Mr Brennan said.
He said his members had voted 98% in favour of launching a campaign to secure that right after the union held a comprehensive consultation process with them last November and December.
“They are not prepared to wait any longer. We apologise for any inconvenience our campaign may cause but we have no option open to us if we are to protect our members’ rights and livelihoods, ” he said.
