Taxi drivers are poised to take industrial action for the second time in less than a year.
The leadership of the National Taxi Drivers’ Union (NTDU) and the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation (ITDF) are considering balloting members on whether to take industrial action over the planned elimination of luggage handling charges in Dublin.
Consultation between the two unions are expected in the coming days with a view to establishing a joint ballot.
The controversy follows a decision by Dublin City Council last night to increase taxi-fares by nearly 11 per cent but to also scrap the luggage handling charge of £1.60.
Two of Dublin’s three county councils, Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown and South Dublin, had already agreed to the increase recommended by the joint local authority committee on taxis.
But the proposed new pricing structure will only come into effect if Fingal County Council approve the new measures at its next sitting scheduled for July 2nd.
The joint local authority committee was set up in response to an application by taxi drivers for a fare increase. The last increase was in 1998.
IDTU president John Ussher told ireland.comthe majority of taxi drivers would lose money as a result of the proposed change in pricing structure and that members were putting pressure on their representatives "to take some form of industrial action."
He said 3,000 drivers with permits to operate at Dublin airport and other drivers operating at ports, train and bus stations could find some journeys paying them less money because the increase in the per-mile rate would be offset by the elimination of the luggage handling charge.
"This function should be taken away from local authorities and put in the hands of bodies capable of dealing with applications," Mr Ussher said.
A decision on whether to take action before Fingal County Council meet in July has not yet been made.