The strike will take place from 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Sunday, with taxi drivers across Ireland switching off the Uber app and not being available for hire through the platform
Dublin Taxi at night
A 48-hour Uber strike is set to kick off on Friday, extending into Sunday, as taxi drivers across Ireland plan to shut down their app in protest against new fixed-price fares.
Starting from 6pm today, Friday, until 6pm on Sunday, cabbies all over Ireland will collectively turn off the Uber app and won’t be available for hire via the platform.
Derek O’Keeffe, founder of Taxi Drivers Ireland, explained that the strike is a direct reaction to Uber’s introduction of fixed-price fares, a move he believes “threatens the regulated structure of the Irish taxi industry and the earnings of professional drivers.”
According to the Taxi Regulation Act, all taxi fares in Ireland must be calculated using a taximeter, ensuring complete transparency and consumer protection.
O’Keeffe further stated: “Taxi drivers are firmly opposed to fixed-price fares. We will only operate in a fully regulated market as defined by law. We are not hackneys or private hire vehicles. We are licensed taxis, and we operate exclusively under the taximeter system, as legally required.”, reports the Irish Mirror.
“Independent pricing outside the regulated meter system undermines the safeguards designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and sustainability within the taxi industry.
“Any attempt by private apps to gain market share by introducing their own fare structures is not acceptable and will not be accepted by the taxi drivers of Ireland.
“We thank the public for their understanding and cooperation during this period. Your support helps protect transparency, fairness, and the livelihoods of taxi drivers across the country.”
28th June 2024, Dublin, Ireland. Taxi’s in Dublin city centre.
In response to this, an Uber spokesperson stated that upfront pricing is a fundamental part of the Uber experience worldwide, including in taxi markets. They added that it provides transparency for riders, which subsequently builds rider confidence and can boost trip demand, maximising earnings for drivers.
An Uber representative told the Irish Mirror: “Riders are much more likely to book a trip if they know what the fare is going to be, creating more earning opportunities for drivers across Ireland. Before accepting a trip, drivers can see their estimated earnings and the route used, alongside factors like traffic and time of day, to calculate this amount.”
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