Taxi drivers to block O’Connell St in protest escalation [Archive]

Ash

12/09/2006, 9:08 AM

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/09/11/story276328.html

Why are this group of people allowed to do this and disrupt everyone else's lives. This option isn't open to any other group. where were the arrests or the towing away of taxi's:mad:

Didnt se eit on tv but if they were having a "go slow" to block O'Connell St,
could they have been done for “Failure to leave appropriate distance between
you and the vehicle in front” and get 2 points on their licence?

Peadar

12/09/2006, 9:29 AM

This option isn't open to any other group.

Students are always blocking up the place with their protests.
Having said that, it's pure greed on the part of a group of taxi drivers which is driving this campaign. (Pun intended.)

I've heard stories of other taxi drivers being intimidated for not joining the protest.

Anyone ever notice how all taxi drivers in Dublin, "used" to be Rovers fans???

drummerboy

12/09/2006, 10:06 AM

Seen a group of protesters gather around a woman taxi driver who had a fare in the cab yesterday, shouting and screaming “scab, scab, scab”. Thankfully the guards moved them on. Have to say the crowd walking up the middle of Westmoreland street looked an unsavory lot, sad to see one of them wearing a tracksuit of a prominent junior football club.

BohsPartisan

12/09/2006, 10:18 AM

Scabbing is unacceptable. If they have voted for industrial action it should be adhered to by all.

drummerboy

12/09/2006, 10:41 AM

Scabbing is unacceptable. If they have voted for industrial action it should be adhered to by all.

What happens if you are not in the union?

pete

12/09/2006, 10:43 AM

Scabbing is unacceptable. If they have voted for industrial action it should be adhered to by all.

Taxi drivers are self emplyed! If 1 plumber went on strike would you expect all the other plumbers in the country to go on strike too?

Taxi drivers have to be the most stupid people in the country. Who ever heard of self employed people going on strike... :D :rolleyes:

They can go on strikes for weeks for all i care. Sure it would be difficult getting home at night but i am sure i'd survive.

Peadar

12/09/2006, 10:53 AM

Sure it would be difficult getting home at night but i am sure i'd survive.

Could it possibly be anymore difficult to get home from Dublin City centre on a Saturday night?

Bald Student

12/09/2006, 11:00 AM

Could it possibly be anymore difficult to get home from Dublin City centre on a Saturday night?Were you around when we only had 3,000 Taxi's?

On the scab issue, a good number of Taxi drivers weren't balloted and those who were voted for a strike ending at 1pm. The lady was perfectly entitled to go out working.

Peadar

12/09/2006, 11:07 AM

Were you around when we only had 3,000 Taxi's?

Yeah, but I lived in Christchurch then. ;)

Now I see a taxi with the roof light on, stick out my hand, the light goes off and the driver pretends that there's something very interesting on the other side of the road which he must look at, then 100m down the road his light goes back on and he picks up two birds.

It's stuff like that which means I have no respect for the industry and will never support them.

Remember not being able to get a taxi after the Setanta Cup Final. When I did manage to get one, I told the driver that others were turning off their lights when they saw my colours. He said that drivers wouldn't want to get caught having to drop someone to Heuston because they'd find it hard to get a fare on the way back. My heart bleeds for them!

BohsPartisan

12/09/2006, 11:16 AM

What happens if you are not in the union?

Then you're a scab to begin with. Its the unions job to look after its own.

Ringo

12/09/2006, 12:03 PM

Students are always blocking up the place with their protests.
Having said that, it's pure greed on the part of a group of taxi drivers which is driving this campaign. (Pun intended.)

I've heard stories of other taxi drivers being intimidated for not joining the protest.

Anyone ever notice how all taxi drivers in Dublin, "used" to be Rovers fans???

They are organaised protests by studants and others, not like this bunch. did you see them covering their faces and putting their hands over the tv camera's. Is that nornal behavior, what are they trying to hide. Taxi's are not allowed park at ranks, if no one was in the car they should have been towed. the official dispute finished at 1pm.

Dodge

12/09/2006, 12:07 PM

Speaking as a huge believer in trade unions, the taxi drivers haven't a ****ing leg to stand on. Less than 5% of them protested. Far more actually worked yesterday. Ridiculous carry on

Lionel Ritchie

12/09/2006, 12:19 PM

Then you're a scab to begin with. Its the unions job to look after its own. Bare-faced Fascism!

I believe it is a fundamental right of any worker to align themselves with a trade union. Therefore I believe it is a fundamental right of a worker to choose not to.

If a driver isn't in one of their mob cartels they have no business interfering with them.

While I disagree with the taxi mens position on these and pretty much any other changes that have happened to try and break their monopoly and stranglehold on the general public - I support their right to protest.

But I do not support their right to close down O'Connell St and hold the public hostage as they attempt to go home or about their business. Their protest wasn't supposed to go near O'Connell St according to one of their own leaders much less stop there but he couldn't marshall his own protest so he let them off.

There's only one language these guys understand and that's money. The general public should be organising a boycott -pick a friday or saturday -and send these bullys a lesson they'll pick up on quick enough.

drummerboy

12/09/2006, 12:41 PM

Well I for one will be boycotting taxis for as long as I can. As regards unions, I'm all for them, but if an individual chooses to not join, that is their entitlement. I certainly don't believe in mob rule.

pete

12/09/2006, 1:16 PM

Then you're a scab to begin with. Its the unions job to look after its own.

If thats the attitude pro union people have no wonder some people don't like unions.

What do taxi drivers have to complain about? For 5k licence they get to pick their own hours of work, can pick and choose their passengers, cash money, almost never print receipts.

BTW got a taxi couple of week ago & guy was on something like his 12-14 hour of his shift and few more hours to go. It was around 7.30pm. :eek:

BohsPartisan

12/09/2006, 3:36 PM

Bare-faced Fascism!

I believe it is a fundamental right of any worker to align themselves with a trade union. Therefore I believe it is a fundamental right of a worker to choose not to.

.

Not saying its not a right but when that right conlicts with the right of the unionised worker to stand up for themselves, they have a right to defend their interests.
Its Ironic you calling me a fascist too you right wing buffoon. You don't even know what fascism is by the looks of it.

BohsPartisan

12/09/2006, 3:37 PM

If thats the attitude pro union people have no wonder some people don't like unions.

I.E. Scabs.

Lionel Ritchie

12/09/2006, 4:05 PM

Its Ironic you calling me a fascist too you right wing buffoon. You don't even know what fascism is by the looks of it.

Didn't call you a fascist or anything else. You know nothing about me or my politics Bohs so stick your name calling up your hole. Cheers.

Not saying its not a right but when that right conlicts with the right of the unionised worker to stand up for themselves...

Actually that's exactly what you're saying

...they have a right to defend their interests. Translation: they have a right to intimidate and bully those who don't agree with them who don't wish to take part in their hissy fit and who maybe don't see a problem with their monopoly being broken.

BohsPartisan

12/09/2006, 4:36 PM

Didn't call you a fascist or anything else. You know nothing about me or my politics Bohs so stick your name calling up your hole. Cheers.

Actually that's exactly what you're saying

Translation: they have a right to intimidate and bully those who don't agree with them who don't wish to take part in their hissy fit and who maybe don't see a problem with their monopoly being broken.

Yeah all of what you said. Stick to the singing mate.

Lionel Ritchie

13/09/2006, 9:31 AM

Yeah all of what you said. Stick to the singing mate.

Touché.:rolleyes:

Not interested in challenging any of the substantive points I raised about their botched, unmarshalled protest or intimidation then?

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 10:12 AM

I never made any points about that.
I was making general points on strike tactics i.e. that strike breakers are scabs and deserve to be outed as such. My knowledge of the rights and wrongs of this particular Taxi dispute is limited and I wasn't even getting into it until one post annoyed me.

Lionel Ritchie

13/09/2006, 10:53 AM

I never made any points about that.
I was making general points on strike tactics i.e. that strike breakers are scabs and deserve to be outed as such.

A person can't be a strike breaker unless they were on strike in the first place or are affiliated with a striking organisation.

I don't have to go on strike just because someone in the same line of business who happens to be affililiated to a union says so despite my not sharing that affiliation.

My knowledge of the rights and wrongs of this particular Taxi dispute is limited and I wasn't even getting into it until one post annoyed me.

Then I don't think I'm unreasonable in asking why are you chucking your orb about in a thread titled "Taxi drivers to block O’Connell St in protest escalation"?

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 11:09 AM

A person can't be a strike breaker unless they were on strike in the first place or are affiliated with a striking organisation.

That is incorrect. Strike breakers are rarely part of the union or on strike in the first place. Strike Breakers are any outside group whos actions directly affect the success of the strike. Scab labour can be classified as such. Other example of strike breaking is police intimidation or private "security" firms being brought in to move picketers (as happened in the Glass Bottle factory dispute a few years back in Ringsend.)

Strike breaking is the practice of using intimidation, coercion, legislation, or even violence to break the support for a union strike or to force strikers back to work.

Non-legislative measures usually involve the use of non-unionized replacement workers, derogatively referred to by union members as "scabs". Union busting uses similar tactics to sap support for a union or disrupt a union organizing campaign.

In the early days of unionization, the Pinkerton Detective Agency was notorious for its use of violence against unionized workers. However, there are many examples where even police forces and National Guard units have been used to "keep the peace" during strikes, while using most of its force against the workers.

As for me "throwing my Orb about"; I originaly got in on this thread in reaction to the comment by drummerboy and never once said anything about the reasons for this strike or if they are right or wrong.

jebus

13/09/2006, 11:42 AM

Then you're a scab to begin with. Its the unions job to look after its own.

You haven't a leg to stand on here BohsPartisan, I fully agree with Lionel Ritchie on this one. I do believe in this country that we have a choice in who we want to affiliate ourselves with in terms of unions, clubs etc. and by saying that they have to join up a certain union or else be rightfully physically intimidated by union members pushes you very close to extreme right politics.

Might I point out that in a different thread on socialism I listed one of the oiints that turns people off the socialist party is your picking up of whatever dispute will garner the party the next mornings headlines, and then to be as hard line about said cause as possible? ;)

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 1:18 PM

You haven't a leg to stand on here BohsPartisan, I fully agree with Lionel Ritchie on this one. I do believe in this country that we have a choice in who we want to affiliate ourselves with in terms of unions, clubs etc. and by saying that they have to join up a certain union or else be rightfully physically intimidated by union members pushes you very close to extreme right politics.

Might I point out that in a different thread on socialism I listed one of the oiints that turns people off the socialist party is your picking up of whatever dispute will garner the party the next mornings headlines, and then to be as hard line about said cause as possible? ;)

Ah Jebus welcome. You lost your last arguement so you had to jump in here to have a pop at me?

1. I haven't picked up on this dispute.
2. I believe people should have a choice about what the join or don't join.
3. I believe that people who cross a picket line are the lowest form of scum because they are aiding the employer/capitalist for their own greedy short term gain while putting other people's livelihoods in jeapordy.
Capíche?

Lionel Ritchie

13/09/2006, 1:27 PM

Strike Breakers are any outside group whos actions directly affect the success of the strike. Scab labour can be classified as such. I'm not talking about any outside group. I'm talking about taxi drivers who aren't part of the unions concerned who chose to work rather than take part in a strike.

Other example of strike breaking is police intimidation or private "security" firms being brought in to move picketers (as happened in the Glass Bottle factory dispute a few years back in Ringsend.)
. Irrelavent. There's no employer here looking to break a strike. These people are self employed.

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 1:30 PM

I'm not talking about any outside group. I'm talking about taxi drivers who aren't part of the unions concerned who chose to work rather than take part in a strike.

Irrelavent. There's no employer here looking to break a strike. These people are self employed.

So the government/city council has no interest in breaking the strike?

On them not being part of the union, that makes them an outside group, I.E. not part of the union/not part of the strike. So they are strikebeakers/scabs as per the definition of same.

Student Mullet

13/09/2006, 1:37 PM

3. I believe that people who cross a picket line are the lowest form of scum because they are aiding the employer/capitalist for their own greedy short term gain while putting other people's livelihoods in jeapordy. Could you explain this one with reference to the Taxi dispute? Who is the capatilist out for greedy short term gain?

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 1:41 PM

Could you explain this one with reference to the Taxi dispute? Who is the capatilist out for greedy short term gain?

Sorry misunderstanding - The scab's greedy short term gain.

Lionel Ritchie

13/09/2006, 2:31 PM

So the government/city council has no interest in breaking the strike?. Irrelevant. The government isn't forcing taxi drivers to work. They're choosing to.

I as a private citizen and member of the public have an interest in seeing the taxi drivers faced down, defeated, competed with and made efficient.

I as a private citizen and member of the public have an interest in obtaining the service I want, on my terms, when I want it and at a reasonable rate.

I as a private citizen and member of the public have a right to take my custom elsewhere when I'm not happy with the service being offered.

On them not being part of the union, that makes them an outside group, I.E. not part of the union/not part of the strike. So they are strikebeakers/scabs as per the definition of same.

So now you're saying Union membership is mandatory? -in actuality and/or effect. If so who's union?

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 2:42 PM

So now you're saying Union membership is mandatory? -in actuality and/or effect. If so who's union?

Never said that, just that if you impede the union then you have to be prepared to face the consequences of taking that action.

All your bluster about what is in your interest as a private citizen is nonsense. Basicly you are saying that it is in your interest that all other workers other than yourselves have their wages paushed down leaving you with the best of all possible worlds.

Lionel Ritchie

13/09/2006, 4:19 PM

Never said that, just that if you impede the union then you have to be prepared to face the consequences of taking that action.

All your bluster about what is in your interest as a private citizen is nonsense. Basicly you are saying that it is in your interest that all other workers other than yourselves have their wages paushed down leaving you with the best of all possible worlds.

Your swingin' blind now Bohs.

"If I impede the union"?!?! How many times do I have to say it? It's not my union and it's not the union of the hypothetical taxi driver I'm talking about.

Your "prepared to face the consequences" quip is chilling. It truly is a recipe for mob rule.

The rest of your post is laughable it's so ironically in tatters. Ask the people trapped in Dublin city center the other day who was putting their personal interests before everyone elses. Ask the ambulance driver ...in fact ask the poor fcuker in the back of the ambulance who the "I'm-All-Right-Jacks" in Dublin city center were the other day.

Ludicrous post.

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 4:25 PM

Your swingin' blind now Bohs.

"If I impede the union"

Your "prepared to face the consequences" quip is chilling. .

Good.

Aberdonian Stu

13/09/2006, 4:36 PM

pete

13/09/2006, 4:51 PM

Taxi drivers are self employed people who pay the local council 5k & they get a licence to drive a taxi under the regulations of the city council.

I find it hilarious that just because a minority of taxi drivers strike that the rest of them cannot earn a living.

It is no surprise that unionised taxi drivers are resisting any regulation of the taxi trade in Dublin. Can anyone explain why taxi drivers are not obliged to pick me up from the side of the road yet when i queue at the taxi rank i can't pick the nice clean taxi & skip the grotty clapped out 12 year old corolla?

Is not a bit of regulation required in that trade?

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 5:11 PM

Bohs Partisan could you clarify something for me please. This is a genuine question and not an attack, I just am not clear in my understanding of where you stand.

Straight yes or no please.

Are you saying it is ok for strikers to break the laws of this state by using means of physical intimidation and force to achieve their goals?

Yes.
For the simple reason that the laws of the state are designed to suit the class in who's interest the state rules. If workers' on strike always have to adhere by the rules then those in power fix the rules to suit themselves.

Student Mullet

13/09/2006, 5:15 PM

Well, at least you're honest.

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 5:23 PM

Well, at least you're honest.

Let me digress. I've pointed out previously how employers and the state use physical and psychological intimidation against striking workers. This is completely legal. Yet the laws are fixed so that workers cannot defend themselves against this intimidation or engage in counter intimidation. I consider it perfectly justifiable to break these laws.

jebus

13/09/2006, 6:06 PM

Ah Jebus welcome. You lost your last arguement so you had to jump in here to have a pop at me?

1. I haven't picked up on this dispute.
2. I believe people should have a choice about what the join or don't join.
3. I believe that people who cross a picket line are the lowest form of scum because they are aiding the employer/capitalist for their own greedy short term gain while putting other people's livelihoods in jeapordy.
Capíche?

I'm not even going to reopen that British supporting argument here because I fundamentally believe that you and the rest of your lot on that topic are narrow minded and somewhat deluded, hence why I opted out of that ridiculous thread.

But back to this discussion. You say people should have a choice about what they join or don't join, and yet you advocate a group of men surrounding a female in her car, doing her job and bullying her because she doesn't agree with their viewpoint. I still say you are floating dangerously close to the extreme right way here

Aberdonian Stu

13/09/2006, 6:35 PM

Well lets just say I disagree with you strongly Bohs Partisan.

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 9:48 PM

I'm not even going to reopen that British supporting argument here because I fundamentally believe that you and the rest of your lot on that topic are narrow minded and somewhat deluded, hence why I opted out of that ridiculous thread.

But back to this discussion. You say people should have a choice about what they join or don't join, and yet you advocate a group of men surrounding a female in her car, doing her job and bullying her because she doesn't agree with their viewpoint. I still say you are floating dangerously close to the extreme right way here
Well you obviously have no understanding of what makes extreme right extreme right. Talking about one incident where "a lone female" is surrounded is being emotive. Its like saying won't somebody please think of the children. Its not because she doesn't agree with their viewpoint it is because she is endangering their livelihoods.
On the arguement you lost I wasn't talking about the one you were talking about. However thats not important. Listen, I've seen first hand the effects of scabbing.I've seen what it can do to a family if scabs are allowed to
break strikes and its a lot worse than a few minutes "intimidation".

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 9:52 PM

Well lets just say I disagree with you strongly Bohs Partisan.

Thats your perogative. But answer me this. Do you think it is always wrong to break the law?

Did you think the men and women who fought the British in the war of independance were wrong to intimidate collaborators? Were the men and women of the rising wrong to break the law, a law that was constructed to suit the interests of British Imperialism. Should they have tried to work within a system where the odds were stacked against them?

Aberdonian Stu

13/09/2006, 10:35 PM

Not always but most of the time. I will grant that there are exceptions but that is what they are exceptions.

Breaking the law just because you think it gives you a raw deal, or even if it does give you a raw deal, isn't justified in my opinion.

Should they have tried you ask? I say yes.

Should they have protested if they felt the system was stacked against them? I say yes as is their legal right but only so long as their protest is legal. Physical threats and actions don't generally come under the acceptably legal banner.

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 10:52 PM

Ever smoked a joint?

Physical threats and actions don't generally come under the acceptably legal banner.
Unless they come from the cops, the army, Ollie Byrne...

Lionel Ritchie

13/09/2006, 10:57 PM

Bohs, now that you've (admirably if tragically) admitted to your ..how should I put it ...paramilitant leanings in these matters -can I put a hypothesis to you.

How do you think -or would you make your best guess at how -these same taxi men who blocked O'Connell st the other day would react if, say the tarmaccers, decided they weren't getting a fair deal, went on strike and as part of their protest blocked these taxi men from going about their business?

My guess is there wouldn't be a hurley or a 6" carpenters nail to be got in Dublin. Yours?

BohsPartisan

13/09/2006, 11:01 PM

Bohs, now that you've (admirably if tragically) admitted to your ..how should I put it ...paramilitant leanings in these matters -can I put a hypothesis to you.

Sorry mate, no paramilitary leanings from me. You won't see me in a balaclava with an armalite or wearing a blue uniform waving a baton (unless its a baguette).

BohsPartisan

14/09/2006, 8:50 AM

How do you think -or would you make your best guess at how -these same taxi men who blocked O'Connell st the other day would react if, say the tarmaccers, decided they weren't getting a fair deal, went on strike and as part of their protest blocked these taxi men from going about their business?

My guess is there wouldn't be a hurley or a 6" carpenters nail to be got in Dublin. Yours?

There have been many protests that have blocked up O Connell St. and other streets in the city. I've never seen any taxi drivers attack these protests.