Protest planned for Thursday in Dublin as drivers warn of financial losses
Uber taxi drivers in Ireland are striking again in opposition to the company’s new fixed-fare pricing model, with a major protest scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Dublin.
Organizers announced the demonstration will begin at 4:30pm on Thursday, apologizing to passengers for any inconvenience caused. The action follows an earlier strike held just days ago over the same issue.
Drivers say Uber’s new fixed-fare system will cause them significant financial losses and make the current fare structure set by the National Transport Authority irrelevant. Under the new model, passengers pay a predetermined amount for their journey, preventing taxi fares from rising due to traffic congestion or the use of alternative routes. Uber markets the system as allowing passengers to travel without “fear of the meter,” with customers paying the lower amount if the meter shows less than the predetermined fare.
However, drivers argue they will lose money when stuck in traffic jams and other situations where journey times exceed expectations. They are also concerned that other taxi apps operating in Ireland may adopt similar pricing models, further eroding their earnings.
As part of the protest action, drivers have warned Dublin Airport and other institutions to stop cooperating with Uber or face a boycott. Organizers have called on the National Transport Authority and the Minister for Transport to intervene in the dispute.
More than 6,000 drivers in Ireland currently use the Uber app, making the platform a significant part of the country’s taxi and ride-hailing ecosystem. The dispute highlights growing tensions between gig economy platforms and workers over pay structures and working conditions.
The strike comes at a time when many drivers are already struggling with rising fuel costs, increased vehicle maintenance expenses and competition from multiple ride-hailing platforms operating in Irish cities. Drivers argue that fixed fares remove their ability to earn fair compensation for time spent in traffic or on longer routes necessitated by road closures and diversions.
Uber has not yet issued a public response to the planned strike action or addressed drivers’ specific concerns about the financial impact of the fixed-fare model.