It is day 15 of the locked-out Airport Taxi driver's protest over increased pickup fees and tensions are high.
Other taxi companies picking up from the airport say they are being harassed and their vehicles are being vandalized.
“There have been incidents of eggs being thrown at them, there have been ambush incidents where along the parkway, where there use to be train tracks, rocks are being thrown at them, there’s an example of a spark plug thrown at one of the cars that resulted in a cracked windshield,” said Marc Andre way, COO at Coventry Connections.
Coventry Connections is the company responsible for dispatching taxis.
Officials at Ottawa’s Airport said since the dispute began two weeks ago, they have handed out eight trespass notices to drivers, but could have enforced a breach of injunction.
“We would prefer to work with the drivers and protesters through the trespass notice step first. We are not looking to escalate, in fact we want this situation to be resolved,” said Krista Kealey, VP of Communications for the airport.
A court injunction was put in place last week which allows Airport Taxi drivers to protest, but asks them to tone it down at the airport.
Airport Taxi drivers said they are not responsible for the incidents in question.
“To do any harm for us by breaching the court order, that does help our cause,” said Johda Khashan, an Airport Taxi driver.
But Khashan did say drivers are shouting from the designated protest area at the airport.
“We are entitled and able to shame them. We have to remind them we have to be united, because that doesn’t help us and help them to cross the picket line as long as we are in the same union, the same unit. But that is all we are doing to them,” said Khashan.
Airport officials said they have reported the incidents to Ottawa Police and will continue to monitor the situation.
Airport Taxi drivers are expected to meet with Mayor Jim Watson and are hoping for some action from City Hall.
