Taxi drivers refuse to rule out further work stoppages

Taxi drivers protesting against the introduction of a new fare structure are refusing to rule out further strike action in the coming weeks.

The drivers have already engaged in four work stoppages as part of their campaign, bringing traffic to a standstill in Dublin city centre on Monday.

Yesterday, their unions held talks with the Department of Transport and agreed afterwards to participate in a consultation process aimed at finding mechanisms to appeal against decisions taken by regulators.

However, the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation said further industrial action was still likely to go ahead when the new fare structure comes into force on September 25.

It said drivers would refuse to pay a 70 cent charge for each time they use Dublin Airport, which would in turn see them refused entry to the airport, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

The ITDF also said the three taxi unions would be consulting their executives to see if other protest actions were warranted.