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The Ottawa International Airport and Coventry Connections should head back to the bargaining table to resolve the labour dispute caused by an increase in fees for airport taxi drivers, the airport area’s city councillor said as the protest entered its eighth day.

River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington said Tuesday that while he understands the right of drivers to protest, the impact on residents using the Airport Parkway needs to be limited. He said the best way to move forward is for both sides to sit down with a mediator to negotiate a new deal.

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“I’m very concerned when major arterial roads are clogged at peak times when many other residents of the city that have nothing to do with this current situation are being impacted,” Brockington said.

When the protest began, airport taxi drivers were mainly demonstrating at the airport. But on Monday, at least 150 cabs slowed to about 20 kilometres an hour for two hours along routes near the airport, including Uplands Drive, the Airport Parkway and Hunt Club Road just as the afternoon rush hour was getting underway. Drivers repeated the slow-moving protest during Tuesday morning’s prime commuting hours.