Hundreds of taxi drivers staged a sit-in Wednesday to protest unreasonable fines and lack of a regular monthly salary.

Most of the drivers were from Dubai Taxi, the largest of the five taxi companies in the city which has over 3,000 units.

"We are all participating. There are 800 of us here," said one driver. The turnout represents about one third of the morning-shift employees.

Drivers congregated at the taxi depot in Muhaisnah as early as 5am. Scores of cabs were parked all around and more were inside the complex with drivers warning that approximately 2,000 vehicles would not operate until their demands were met.

Rumours

Rumours of job action have circulated since last week.

"I am not working now, we have a strike," said one driver as he was flagged down in front of the depot by a customer.

"We cannot work like this. The RTA [Roads and Transport Authority] issues fines for every thing, they then take money for visa, health insurance and accommodation," said one driver.

"We are standing by the men on this. Our working conditions are unfair and the system is really bad," said a female cab driver who joined the sit-in.

Reports among the drivers’ community state that a large number of old cabbies have resigned and left to work for competing companies.

An Asian driver said: "We are prepared to continue for as many days as it takes to get a solution," said a driver who has worked for Dubai Taxi since 2002.

"We are dogs, not human beings," yelled another driver. "We’re not allowed to even keep a bottle of water in the car."

"If we have an accident, whether we get the green or red paper, we still get fined Dh2,000 no matter how little the damage," added a driver.

"I got fined for going to the mosque to pray while on duty," said another.

Ammar Bin Tamim, Director of Dubai Taxi, said the RTA met with the drivers for talks.

He confirmed there were hundreds of drivers involved but didn’t have a precise number. He said the talks were successful but did not disclose the issues.

"The drivers listened to us, they were happy, and they went back to work," he said.

Driver demands

Respectable treatment
A labour contract
Fine investigation system
Free accommodation
Free health insurance
Restructuring pay – with a n monthly salary, plus commission
Hard times

Taxi drivers work seven days a week without paid leave.

Commission is calculated after traffic fines, company penalties, visa fees, training fees, and medical insurance expenses are subtracted from the total fee.

"This protest is not about the fines … but we are telling the RTA that these are our problems and you have to have a solution.

"They [think] that [we] are needy people you have to use like tissue paper, clean your face and throw away, this is not the way, sir," said a distraught Indian taxi driver.

http://www.xpress4me.com/news/uae/dubai/20008416.html

SAINT JOHN - Local cab drivers are feeling the pinch from rising gas prices, but so far are holding off on increasing fares in the city.

Enlarge Photo Peter Walsh/Telegraph-JournalUniversity Taxi’s Kenny Khanes said he and fellow owners recognize that a large number of clients are on low or fixed incomes so it is difficult for them to handle price increases. There is a lot of talk going on amongst the drivers, but it is difficult for them to get together since they have to work 12 to 14 hours a day to make a living, said Ahmed (Kenny) Khanes, owner of University Cab.

Gerry Lowe, owner of Vets Taxi, is also hearing talk but says owners are reluctant to increase fares in the summer because people will look for alternatives.

Although gas prices have been rising, taxi use was up over the winter because the weather was bad, so now they are holding off on any price increase, said Lowe.

The majority of cabs in the city are privately owned, so Lowe believes it will take pressure from those owners before prices rise.

"There is no big push, even from among my private owners to do anything, definitely because of the summer," he said.

Khanes said the owners recognize that a large number of clients are on low or fixed incomes so it is difficult for them to handle price increases.

Prices in Saint John are not regulated, but are based on an agreement among the taxi drivers. The last time prices increased was in the summer of 2005 when it was agreed to increase the basic fare for the shortest trips from $5 to $6. Trips costing between $10 to $20 were increased by $2 and those over $30 were increased by $3.

Khanes said one thing the provincial government could do to keep taxi fares from rising is to give drivers some relief on insurance.

"Over the past two years the insurance companies have raised prices on taxis, only taxis," he said.

Cab drivers in Montreal pay $100 per month per car, but in New Brunswick the price is between $250 and $350 per month, he said.

"It’s ridiculous," he said.

The government could help by legislating lower prices in New Brunswick or by allowing the drivers to shop around and buy their insurance from out of province providers, he said.

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/344824