Taxi drivers to block O�Connell St in protest escalation

**Ringo** · 11/09/2006, 7:22 PM

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

**BohsPartisan** · 12/09/2006, 8:54 AM

Originally Posted by Ringo

This option isn't open to any other group.

Farmers?

**Ash** · 12/09/2006, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by Ringo

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

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

Originally Posted by Ringo

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

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

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

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

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...

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

Originally Posted by pete

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

Originally Posted by Peadar

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

Originally Posted by Bald Student

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

Originally Posted by drummerboy

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

Originally Posted by Peadar

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

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

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.

**BohsPartisan** · 12/09/2006, 3:36 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

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

Originally Posted by pete

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

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

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.

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

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

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

...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.