Capital Taxi drivers protest outside Coventry Connections as job action ramps up

Drivers with Capital Taxi in Ottawa are picketing outside the headquarters of their dispatcher, Coventry Connections, after the drivers rejected a final contract offer.

A spokesman for the union representing Capital Taxi drivers said this labour dispute is "not all about fees." Drivers are not happy with current work conditions including vacation time, other time off, fees and insurance costs.

Georges Chamoun said drivers are not happy with the language in their collective bargaining agreement, which is why they rejected a final three-year contract offer from Coventry Connections on Monday.

Chamoun said the offer is too long considering the City of Ottawa recently assigned KPMG to undergo a thorough review of the city's taxi and limousine regulations.

Coventry has stopped dispatching 76 suspended drivers from Capital Taxi due a refusal to pay fees out of 306, but others continue to be dispatched, according to Marc Andre Way, the dispatcher's vice president and CEO.

Capital joins Airport taxi drivers in protest

This is the second set of taxi drivers Ottawa in the midst of a labour dispute with the dispatcher. The ongoing lockout of airport taxi drivers has lasted more than two weeks as drivers protest a change to the payment structure.

On Aug. 1, Blueline Taxi drivers had joined Capital drivers in the first phase of job action by withholding fees from Coventry Connections to use the dispatch service and private taxi stands.

Blueline Taxi drivers then reached an agreement with Coventry Connections almost two weeks ago. Capital Taxi drivers chose remain without an agreement.

Traffic delays are not expected on Thursday morning, according to Chamoun.