Outraged Iqaluit cabbies go on strike

DENISE RIDEOUT

IQALUIT — In a crowded Town council chamber on Wednesday, Iqaluit’s taxi drivers vowed they’re not going back on the road until they get a fare increase.

The decision to strike came a day after the council decided against raising cab fares by 75 cents, to $4.50 a trip. Concerned about poor customer service, councillors agreed only to a 25-cent increase.

That made taxi drivers and owners furious.

André Plante, spokesperson for the disgruntled drivers, said the 25-cent increase was a slap in the face.

“We didn’t ask to choke the customers. We just want to survive,” Plante shouted at Mayor John Matthews. “It’s been 10 years since a raise. We are not slaves.”

Just before noon on Wednesday, a parade of taxis drove around town honking their horns to protest the council decision.

Three hours later, they had gathered at the Town council chambers to demand the mayor give them their proposed 75-cent fare hike.

“We’re not going back on the road if we don’t get a better fare. We’re not going back,” one taxi driver said.

Many of the 30 cabbies at the meeting emphasized that high gas prices are making it too expensive to operate their vehicles. They argued they need the fare increase simply to make a living.

“Those guys work 10-hour shifts and go home with $60 or $70. He’d be better to go on welfare,” Plante said.

Matthews said it was impossible to immediately overturn the council’s decision.

Cabbies then demanded that the mayor call in the council members to discuss the issue. But council bylaws prevented him from calling an emergency meeting until today.

Upon hearing that, the drivers vowed to remain off the roads until today’s meeting.

Iqaluit taxi drivers have been calling for a fare increase since the fall, when the cost of gas soared to 93 cents a litre.

Since 1992, taxi fares in Iqaluit have only increased by 25 cents, to the current $3.75 fare.

“It’s too low and it’s been too long [since an increase],” Nanook Taxi owner Eddy Decouto said. “The $3.75 is not worth it.”

Before councillors even agreed to the 25-cent hike, there was much debate whether taxi companies deserved any increase.

That’s because residents have complained about the service, saying they have to wait too long to be picked up and cabbies drive too fast.

There were even accusations that taxi drivers are involved in a host of illegal activities, from bootlegging liquor to selling drugs from their cars.

“There is a problem with customer service. There is a perception here that the service isn’t that good,” councillor Matthew Spence said at the council meeting.

Many drivers were outraged by the accusations, saying the taxi industry shouldn’t be punished for the bad behaviour of a few cabbies.

Still, in order to appease residents’ concerns, councillors agreed to just a 25-cent increase.

The only consolation for taxi drivers is that the council agreed to hike the fare up to $4.50 in three months if taxi service improves.

But that wasn’t enough to please drivers.

“You’ve stalled us long enough,” Plante said to Matthews.

The $4 fare was scheduled to come into effect yesterday.