TAMPA - A strike of taxi drivers in Tampa failed to materialize Monday, and service is expected to continue through the busy holiday season, airport officials said.

Some local taxi drivers, who are independent operators and have no group affiliation such as a union, have become disgruntled over what they perceive as a variety of situations hurting their business, an e-mail sent to Mayor Pam Iorio stated.

Drivers complained about Tampa International Airport recently relocating cab stands to the far ends of the main terminal, farther from the airline baggage pick-up area. They also complained about getting tickets in Ybor City and the Channel District.

It was uncertain who or how many cab drivers were behind the e-mail sent to the mayor. The message said cabbies would turn off radios and refuse to pick up passengers on Monday. However, service continued as usual.

Neither Yellow Cab nor United Cab Co., the two companies with permits to carry passengers from the airport, returned phone calls Monday.

"The problem is we are losing business at the airport," said cab driver Joseph Milien, who works for United. Milien objected to the relocation of the airport cab stands shortly after Thanksgiving.

Airport Director Louis Miller said the airport relocated cab and bus pick-up areas to reduce traffic in the congested arrivals area and the move would benefit travelers and ground transportation companies alike. The airport put up exterior signs directing passengers to the stands.
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