Just 50 cabbies strike, service unaffected

SERVICE UNAFFECTED: The RTA said just 50 taxi drivers took part in Wednesday's strike. (Getty Images)

Just 50 taxi drivers ended up taking part in Wednesday's strike that had threatened to leave thousands of commuters and tourists stranded, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said.

The RTA downplayed the significance of the incident, stating that the drivers stopped work for only one hour and the protest was the work of a "limited number of drivers" that "incited and abetted their colleagues", UAE daily Gulf News reported on its website.

The RTA said Dubai Taxi Agency was operating as normal and almost all drivers were on duty, according to the newspaper.

UAE daily the National reported earlier in the day on its website that taxi drivers had agreed to return to work after management agreed to discuss their complaints about excessive fines for perceived violations of their code of conduct.

Drivers are expected to meet with management on Monday.

The National said cabbies parked their vehicles in front of the agency's main office in Dubai’s Al Muhaisnah area in the morning in protest.

According to media reports, taxi drivers can be fined as much as 35,000 dirhams ($9,529) for a faulty global positioning system, 500 dirhams for picking up a client late and 100 dirhams if the driver cannot provide change to a customer.

The RTA has defended its employment practices in the wake of the industrial action, stating it was “providing the best employment benefits and package of incentives to taxi drivers in Dubai Taxi Agency".

The RTA said benefits included "suitable accommodation, medical insurance, annual bonuses and increments paid to distinguished drivers".

The RTA this year has paid about 4 million dirhams in bonuses to 3,669 drivers who have been employed for a year at Dubai Taxi Agency, it said.

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