THE LATEST:

  • September 14th: Cops looking into a video of an alleged Taxi driver threatening Uber users/driver.

“I’ve asked our staff to determine whether the individual in fact was a licenced taxi driver, and if he was, does that outburst qualify for him to have his licence removed,” Mayor Jim Watson said.

  • September 10th: 3 men charged after Airport Parkway protest (at least 2 taxis accepting fares were damaged).

“Our officers have been working with all those involved in the labour dispute to ensure public safety,” said Chief Charles Bordeleau. “Any incidents of violence will not be tolerated and are fully investigated. People will be held responsible for their actions.”

  • September 10th: Capital Taxi reject latest offer from Coventry Connections; promised to reduce fees by more than one million – an offer Blueline accepted. Coventry Connections CEO told 1310News that THIS dispute is SEPARATE from the Airport protests.
  • September 9th: Mayor Jim Watson has had enough & says he won’t have any more meetings with the taxi union until the vandalism stops:

“Obviously to have those people’s passengers and those cab drivers terrified by having windows smashed in on them is completely unacceptable and, quite frankly, very disturbing behaviour that is not going to be tolerated.”

  • September 2nd: Blueline Taxis vandalized in Barrhaven.
  • August 14th: Injunction filed to keep picketers (20 maximum) in a sectioned off area (aka “a cage”); states drivers can’t block access to the airport
  • August 11th: The protest begins.

Quick FACTS: Taxi drivers are fighting a 400% increase to Airport Passenger pick up fees – Coventry Connections (owner of Blueline, Capital and Airport brand Taxis) ACCEPTED this increase with Ottawa International Airport management before consulting it’s drivers. Drivers are upset because a much cheaper option is available with the introduction of UBER. What is this new fare increase going to do? A secondary offer was made which proposed a 100% increase: also rejected by drivers.

Coventry Connections look like the bad guy in this situation: they DO NOT pay the airport any fees outright.
BUT they DO take money from their drivers as a “management fee” – THEN give the Airport a percent of their earnings. This “management fee” and “payback” could come from the extra 430$ to 690$  drivers WOULD be paying, per month, to have exclusive “pick up” rights at the Ottawa International Airport.

Coventry Connection’s “Airport Taxis” were banned from picking up passengers (after refusing to, in protest) – so, fellow employees, Blueline and Capital were sent to do their job – they didn’t want to, obviously…

The union sent THIS in a letter to it’s cab drivers:
“The company (Coventry Connections) is trying very hard to create a dispute between our membership. They are asking you to be scabs against your own brothers. Do not believe their rhetoric and do not allow them to undermine our solidarity,” reads the letter. “The issue is a money grab from both the airport authority and the Company. If we allow them to charge a fee or surcharge per fare, who is next? The train station, the bus station, shopping centres?”

TL;DR: things still aren’t better between Ottawa Taxi Management and their Drivers – this is GOOD for Uber.

image Beren South
image Beren South