Taxi union must tackle racism in the ranks

IT is very disturbing that the taxi trade continues to fail to address the issue of racism affecting the trade and some of its drivers.

We in Show Racism the Red Card wrote to the taxi regulator following previous coverage of this issue in July, with a view to developing education programmes and awareness to address a deteriorating situation.

We have received an acknowledgement, but no substantive reply.

While the National Taxi Drivers Union counts hundred of African drivers among its ranks, it uses stereotypes and generalisations which do a disservice to these members. As a representative organisation, surely its job is to represent the interests of all drivers as drivers and this necessarily means uniting all of them regardless of nationality. Racism only has the power to divide drivers as it only has the power to divide and poison our society.

Taxi drivers who acquiesce to racism by accepting fares who make their choice on the basis of colour can hardly complain if drivers, regardless of their colour, pick up fares near ranks.

It is crucial that the regulator intervenes and that genuine taxi drivers hold their union representatives to account and work to challenge the growth of racism affecting the taxi trade and the country in general.

Garrett Mullan

Co-ordinator

Show Racism the Red Card

Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups

North Brunswick Street

Dublin 7