Ottawa airport taxi dispute hits 2-month mark

Haroun Dwaydar has been without a full paycheque for two month as the Ottawa airport taxi labour dispute drags on forcing the 61-year-old to ask his children to pay his mortgage and other bills.

"I feel terrible. It makes me uncomfortable," he said.

His wife Wafad Dwaydar added,"asking a child for help, that's like you're stripping your heart from your chest."

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Dwaydars told CBC News they can't afford to live on the $250 a week they're getting from the union and they're not alone.

Unifor, the taxi drivers' union, said thatmore than 270 families are affected by the labour dispute.

Airport taxi dispute hits 2-month mark

9 years ago

Duration 2:03

The union that represents Ottawa airport taxi drivers says that more than 270 families are struggling to make ends meet as the labour dispute with their dispatcher hits the two month mark.

Airport taxi drivershave been locked out of thestand at the arrivals level as they refuse to pay the new pick-up fee charged by the dispatcher, Coventry Connections, forthe exclusive right to pick up at theairport.

Airport drivers used to pay a monthly fee of $345 to the dispatcher, which the dispatcher says would amount to about $1.50 to $2 per fare. The new plan, negotiated between the dispatcher and the Ottawa International Airport Authority,has drivers paying $4.50 per fare instead of a monthly fee.

About 100 airport tax drivers and their supporters marched through downtown Ottawa Friday in protest of the raised fees.