Halifax cabbies calling for wage hike
Posted Oct 12, 2011 05:28:51 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax taxi drivers are calling on Halifax Regional Council for a wage increase, a move which would mean a fare increase for passengers.
Drivers say they are working for less than minimum wage, driving 12-hour long days and working six to seven days a week.
They say they haven’t had a pay increase in six years, and when other cost increases are taken into effect, it’s been more like 12 years.
Cab driver representative, Doug Brian, put in a request for a raise over a year ago with no outcome.
“We’ve got no place to voice our concerns,” said Brian. “Right now if we want to have something said we’ve got to put something into City Hall and if they have time to look at it, well, we’ll be addressed.”
Brian says a big problem is business is terrible.
“This city doesn’t move until 2 o’clock in the morning because it’s a night-life city. We’re just sitting around waiting, driving around in circles and burning off gas,” he said.
Steve Adams, the former head of HRM’s decommissioned Taxi Commission said on one hand, he agrees with a wage increase.
“Theoretically speaking, everything is going up,” Adams told News 95.7. “It would make sense for the drivers to get a raise.”
But Adams says wage increases and fare hikes often drive customers away, which can cost drivers more money.
He suggests implementing an annual increase, which wouldn’t be subject to as much paperwork and would let everyone know what to expect.
“The other option available is a surcharge at certain times of the day,” he said. “I was in New York in August with my family and people get it. They understand a surcharge is on for gas prices.”
The taxi surcharge in New York is in effect during evening rush hour and then again from late night to early morning.
The drivers are also calling for more taxi stands in key areas like the Metro Centre and the Convention Centre as there are not enough fares to keep all the taxi drivers busy.
