The three main taxi drivers unions are to hold a national meeting of drivers in the National Stadium, Dublin, tonight ahead of a possible escalation of their dispute with taxi regulator Ger Deering.
Passengers who have already endured two one-day taxi stoppages in the past month are likely to face further disruption, including a possible all-out withdrawal of service in the coming weeks.
The representative unions, the National Taxi Drivers Union (NTDU), Siptu and the Taxi Drivers' Federation, have called the meeting in frustration over what they say is the refusal of Mr Deering to listen to their concerns.
A new national fare structure, which was signed into law earlier this month, will be in place from September 25th. Minimum charges will be set at €3.80, or €4.10 at premium time, replacing the system where fares were set by individual local authorities.
The new structure also sees the abolition of luggage charges and a €1.50 hiring charge for picking up passengers from Dublin airport. The unions claim the changes will have a devastating impact on drivers' incomes.
Union leaders will not make any recommendation on stoppages to members tonight, but calls for further disruption, including a full stoppage, are likely to be made from the floor, NTDU president Tommy Gorman said. "We are looking for direction from our members and I'm sure there will be suggestions of an all-out withdrawal of service," he said.
Proposals that taxi drivers should boycott the Ryder Cup golf tournament next month are also likely, Mr Gorman said.
The NTDU is also to propose that drivers refuse to pay the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) an annual €500 fee, due in September, to operate at the airport.
Drivers currently pay the DAA 70 cent per trip to pick up passengers from the airport and this is balanced against the €1.50 charged to passengers. With the abolition of this charge drivers will not be able to afford the DAA fee, Mr Gorman said.
Mr Deering yesterday urged the unions not to go ahead with further stoppages.
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