By ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

TAXI drivers yesterday threatened to “cause whatever chaos in the tourism industry” is necessary, and withdraw their services, in a bid to resolve their long-standing dispute with livery rivals as prepare to meet with the minister of tourism today. 

Tyrone Butler, the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) president, said the trade body is prepared to escalate its dispute with livery operators, threatening to trigger wider industrial action if the Government fails to resolve what it alleges is illegal competition at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) and major hotels.

He said the union has now placed its campaign under the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) after concluding that repeated meetings with government officials have produced no meaningful results.

“We presented our case to the Congress, and we said that our goal and our mission is not to keep meeting with the Government and having fruitless meetings,” Mr Butler said. “Following our last demonstration… we feel that it’s time now for us to take our message to the next level.”

He added that the union will now await direction from TUC president, Obie Ferguson KC, who has assumed the lead role in co-ordinating any campaign.

The latest developments come less than two weeks after taxi drivers temporarily blocked access to LPIA’s international departures terminal in protest over what they say is the Government’s failure to prevent livery drivers from soliciting passengers who have not pre-booked transportation.

Following that protest, Leon Lundy, the newly-appointed transport minister, pledged reforms, including the creation of a transportation desk inside the airport staffed by Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) personnel to better separate taxi and livery operations. However, the BTCU says it has seen insufficient progress.

Mr Butler confirmed the union will meet Glenys Hanna Martin, tourism minister, at 2pm today and intends to inform her that industrial action remains a possibility.

“Tomorrow we are meeting with the Minister of Tourism at 2pm,” he said. “We’re also going to advise her of our decision.

“If at all possible, if need be, we will cause whatever chaos in the tourism industry that need be to bring attention to our plight because we hold her as one of the main architects of this mess that we are now experiencing between livery and taxi.”

Mr Butler argued that responsibility for resolving the dispute now rests with the Government.

“It is in the hands of the Government through the minister of transport,” Mr Butler said. “So it is their call to decide what course of action they want to take. We’re not going to run behind them and tell them to follow the law.”

The union president accused the Government of allowing unlawful practices to continue, alleging officials have failed to enforce existing transportation regulations governing livery operators. Under current legislation, taxi operators contend they have the exclusive right to solicit passengers directly at the airport and hotels, while livery drivers are restricted to transporting customers who have made prior bookings.

Mr Butler said the union remains convinced that some livery operators continue to solicit passengers improperly. The BTCU has repeatedly argued that the dispute is threatening members’ livelihoods while also creating confusion for visitors arriving in The Bahamas. Mr Butler said the union is prepared to suspend operations if necessary.

“We’re not a union of employees,” he said. “We’re a union of employers. “So at any point we can withdraw our services. That’s what we are attempting to do - just park our cars and withdraw our service.”

Mr Butler acknowledged such action will inflict a financial cost on taxi operators but said members were prepared to make that sacrifice. “When we did that the other day, the livery drivers were running like crazy,” he said. “We know the sacrifice we have to make.”

The dispute could broaden significantly after the TUC agreed to take up the matter. Mr Butler said affiliate unions would be informed of the next phase of the campaign.

“We’re going to have the demonstrations, and we’re going to up the process to bring the attention and to bring resolution now. So we’re taking it to another level,” he promised.

The TUC represents numerous public sector unions, including the Bahamas Nurses Union, Bahamas Doctors Union, Consultant Physicians Staff Association, Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union and the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union.

Mr Ferguson previously told Tribune Business that the issue had become a priority for the Congress because of the potential impact on tourism.

“We do not want Bahamian transportation operators to be fighting each other in front of the tourists,” he said. “If that happens, things can get out of line, and it could create a woeful experience or reduction in the quality of that offering.”

He added that unless the conflict is resolved quickly, it could “take on a life of its own” and “seriously damage” the country’s tourism industry.