Melbourne Taxi Drivers 2nd Protest Day at City Airport
Melbourne Monday Traffic Mayhem
True to their word, Melbourne's taxi drivers converged for another protest action at the city's airport, creating passenger and traffic mayhem on the first day of the week.
However, compared with their Friday protest action last week, the number of taxi drivers present in the picket lines seem to have dwindled, from 300 to 100 on Monday.
Various reports said a text message from 13CABS circulated among the other members of the group on Sunday night and early Monday morning advising them to ditch plans of joining the 8am blockade at the Melbourne Airport.
"To all drivers - we urge you not to get involved in the disruptive action at Melbourne Airport. Discussions will be held with Melbourne Airport early this week to resolve the situation. Action as reported in the media WILL NOT assist a positive outcome being reached," the message said.
David Samuel, Victorian Taxi Association chief executive, relayed to all members that "we are working on this and their concerns will be put to Melbourne Airport."
"We're asking them to stay calm and stand down until the meeting has run its course," Mr Samuel told AAP. A meeting is being negotiated either on Monday or Tuesday.
On Friday, taxi drivers jammed the airport roads to protest the airport management's new policy which killed the short-fare queues system.
Ali Abou-eid, spokesman for the Taxi Driver Forum, explained taxi drivers earn $8 an hour. With the abolition of the short-fare queues system at the airport, they won't be able to earn as much.
"If they wait in a queue for two hours only to get a fare to Broadmeadows, which is only $14 or $15, they are only making $2.50 an hour - that is not acceptable," Mr Abou-eid was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
He said he had warned the airport authorities in April that killing the short-fare queues system will get chaotic.
"I said it was going to be big trouble," Mr Abou-eid said.
Both state and federal police are monitoring the Monday morning protest. They have likewise asked the drivers to select among themselves five representatives who will sit down with airport authorities for a meeting being scheduled by their leaders.
"We are absolutely happy to discuss any alternatives but we need the commitment of all drivers and the industry," Anna Gillett, Melbourne Airport spokeswoman, said.
Read more:
Melbourne Airport At Risk Due to Taxi Drivers Protest Over Short-Fare Queues