Representatives of the Mook Andaman group of drivers presented a letter to Phuket Governer Maitree Inthusut on Friday, stating that harassment at the airport by rival limousine drivers and some security officials means that their drivers cannot get work at the airport, even though they now have a legal licence to do so.
The secretary of the Mook Andaman group, Ithipon Metthanee, told The Phuket News that the drivers were asking the Governor for fairness under the airport pick-up plan.
“It has been six months since these drivers could work properly, and now their cars are going to be seized by the finance company because they don't have money to pay.”
Some of the drivers report that the police or security officers had prevented them from driving into the airport to pick up customer, a right granted to just 25 listed drivers from the 250-strong Mook Andaman group under the new plan.
Some drivers reported they'd also encountered direct opposition from “green-plate” limousine and shuttle drivers at the airport – and the fraught situation flared this week when one Mook Andaman taxi-meter driver was punched in the eye.
Mr Ithipon said his group wanted to seek the governor’s help to find a way for the airport pick-up plan to be run fairly for all legal drivers at the airport, including the licenced Mook Andaman drivers.
The deal announced last month includes a profit-sharing arrangement with the airport: 25 per cent of profits must be paid to the airport; no more than 25 Mook Andaman drivers may work from the airport, and a list of the 25 must be submitted in advance; all 25 must have vehicles with green license plates; and a list of all members of Mook Andaman must be given to the PLDT.