Uber\u2019s plan to introduce fixed-rate fares to their service presents an existential threat to taxiing, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins and transport spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore.<\/p>\n
Deputy Cummins said:<\/p>\n
\u201cTaxi drivers are being pushed out of their livelihoods by the greed of multinational corporations, who are allowed to act with impunity despite the implications for thousands of workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only will approximately 18,000 workers and their families be affected, it will in turn have a negative impact on consumers, who will be waiting longer times for taxis due to a reduction in supply, if they can even get one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis situation would escalate during the Christmas period, leaving the thousands who avail of taxi services around this time every year stranded.<\/p>\n
\u201cLower prices mean little if services become inaccessible due to dwindling numbers of taxis on our streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaxi drivers must be able to make a decent living to support themselves and their families, which becomes unsustainable if they are forced to accept lower fares to keep up with the likes of Uber.”<\/p>\n
Deputy Whitmore said:<\/p>\n
\u201cMultinational taxi services have been given unbridled power, and their disruption to the sector is causing chaos – it\u2019s a race to the bottom, and it\u2019s threatening the careers of drivers around the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cI support the call for greater regulation of the industry to protect the viability of taxiing – the NTA\u2019s regulated fare system must be made obligatory for all taxi services.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Uber is allowed to go ahead with its fixed-rate plan, the taxi sector could fall into a level of disarray beyond the control of government, and is therefore vulnerable to exploitation.\u201d<\/p>\n
November 25th, 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Uber\u2019s plan to introduce fixed-rate fares to their service presents an existential threat to taxiing, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins and transport spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Cummins said: \u201cTaxi drivers are being pushed out of their livelihoods by the greed of multinational corporations, who are allowed to act with impunity despite the implications […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12708,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[581,268,7,547],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jen-cummins","category-jennifer-whitmore","category-press-release","category-transport"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n