Taxi-drivers in Dublin are to vote on strike action early next month in a continuing dispute over fare increases.
The National Taxi Drivers Union, which claims around 3,300 members, has asked Minister for State Mr Robert Molloy to take responsibility for dealing with taxi fare increases from the four local authorities, after its recent application for an increase was rejected.
Mr Vincent Kearns, vice-president of the NTDU, said yesterday the union had been "more than patient" in its efforts to reach agreement on fare increases but was now issuing official notice of its intention to ballot members on industrial action.
The NTDU has engaged a consultant to examine the proposed fare increases, which were accepted by three Dublin local authorities but rejected by the fourth, Fingal County Council.
Taxi-drivers say the proposal to remove the charge for luggage, proposed by the Joint Taxi/Hackney Committee of the four authorities, is unacceptable to them.