Taxi drivers to withdraw services next Monday

Taxi drivers are planning a 24-hour nationwide strike next Monday in protest at the new fares structure proposed by the taxi …

Taxi drivers are planning a 24-hour nationwide strike next Monday in protest at the new fares structure proposed by the taxi regulator.

The National Taxi Drivers Union said the withdrawal of taxi services next Monday at 5am will continue on "an ongoing basis, reaching a peak in September."

Emergency services will be maintained over the 24-hour period.

Taxi drivers are angry at what they see as the failure of the Taxi Regulator, Ger Deering, to recognise their concerns in the drafting of new fare structures which are expected to be introduced in September.

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The dispute centres on the abolition of charges for carrying luggage and picking up passengers at Dublin Airport. Unions claim drivers could lose as much as €2,500 a year with the changes.

The action has the support of the majority of the country's 17,000 taxi drivers — although a similar call last month failed to severely disrupt services.

The strike is a joint action by Siptu, the NTDU and the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation but emergency services will be maintained over the 24-hour period.

The three unions represent around 65 per cent of the 17,000 drivers around the country, 13,000 of whom are based in the capital.