Taxi Driver Online

Fife Free Press

August 3, 2006

HEADLINE: Talks with venues bring an end to clubbers' taxi strike

A STRIKE by Kirkcaldy taxi drivers has been called off after a deal was struck with the manager of a local bar.

The drivers went on strike last weekend in protest against local pubs and clubs providing free transport.

But it seems the issue has now been resolved following a meeting between Kirkcaldy Taxi Owners Association and representatives from Styx in Victoria Road, where it was agreed to set up a taxi rank in Styx car park.

Taxi drivers had refused to pick up passengers between 2 a.m. and 2.30 a.m. last weekend, claiming the free minibus service between Styx and Kitty McGinty's and Harlem in town was both unsafe and unfair.

They were also unhappy about a free limousine service being offered by nightclub After Dark.

The strike left hundreds of people stranded outside venues after closing time as drivers gathered at the railway station car park and refused to move. Styx manager Ian Kay said the minibus service had only been introduced as a courtesy to local residents after complaints about noise and vandalism.

One resident confirmed: "Since the buses were introduced, the area has been relatively tranquil."

Mr Kay explained: "We were just trying to protect our business. We had to put the buses on to get people away from the area and down to the taxi ranks in the town centre. We ran the service on our busiest nights, Thursday and Saturday. The taxi drivers took that the wrong way - we weren't trying to take business away from them.

"We had a meeting with them on Tuesday and agreed they can use the car park as a taxi rank. He added: "We will still be running the bus services to make sure that people are not walking down the street."

Allan Baillie, Kirkcaldy Taxi Owners Association, confirmed Tuesday's meeting had been a success.

"The suspension won't be continuing," he said. He added: "The After Dark limousine service was a four week promotion so that won't be an issue."

However Mr Baillie admitted that the strike had been initiated by the drivers and not the owners, and he couldn't say if drivers who were not Association members would continue with action.

The drivers had also complained that, while they are vetted by the Council and must have a licence to operate, the drivers of the minibuses are not subject to the same conditions.

Iain Matheson, at Fife Council said: "The activities complained of not ones which we are in a position to legislate on. We can only regulate to the extent that the law allows us to.

"However the Council has been in active discussions with the Kirkcaldy Taxi Owners Association to try to find a satisfactory outcome to the situation."

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