Update: Well it looks like blocking off one of the busiest intersections paid off. Cabbies get their safety screens as well as other demands. Could it be? The government cares? Either way, it is a positive result for all. Updates at The Age ^[1].

^[2]

No one gives a shit about taxi drivers, at least that’s what Melburnians think. They endure low pay, health problems, drunk customers, and increasing violence. Worst of all it seems for them, is that no one listens. So out of desperation, they have decided to protest on the intersection of Swanston and Flinders St. creating a massive gridlock in town.

But c’mon, you think blocking all tram and vehicular traffic on one of Melbourne’s busiest intersection is the way to win people over? The government and the transport minister don’t care. They don’t care about the choking train system and they don’t care about taxi drivers. They would rather spend $500 million on an unnecessary new ticketing system. It was almost 2 years ago that we reported on Rajneesh Joga ^[3], a taxi driver who was killed in similar circumstances to yesterday’s near fatal attack. Bracks didn’t meet with them and all they were asking for was a bit of safety. Two years down the road, nothing has changed and current Transport Minister Lynne Kosky refuses to go down to the protest. At the very least, install the damn safety shields.

What shocks me even more is the general disdain towards taxi drivers. MelbourneManiac, a mostly positive forum had its users posting scathing comments towards taxi drivers.

“Fuck the lot of them, and I hope they all die painfully in a house fire.

No one gives a shit about slimy taxi drivers. The same cunts who ignore road rules whenever they deem it necessary, have no respect for other road users and generally fag up my country.”

-malky

“i’ll stop stabbing taxi drivers when they start reading the melways”

-tokicat

And so on and so forth around the blogosphere. I don’t understand all the hate for people who are just trying to give it a go and earn a buck. They are just asking for a little safety in their jobs.

Links:

Melbourne Metblogs: a silent yellow vigil ^[3]

The Age: Kosky says ‘no’ to furious cabbies ^[4]

Melbourne Maniac: Cabbie demo ^[5]

Picture ^[2] by Dean Podmore ^[6]