Penned behind a chain-link fence in a little-known parking lot to the side of Terminal 3 at Toronto's Pearson Airport, the more than 200 sleek, black airport cabs and limos that would have created traffic havoc for a second consecutive day were instead lined up in neat rows.
Their uniformed drivers, holding placards denouncing the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, reacted with chants for "justice" and jeers when they heard the news that they would be barred from continuing their protest yesterday.
On Monday afternoon, the drivers blockaded the airport, snarling traffic and forcing hundreds of travellers to drag their luggage and walk into the terminals.
Citing public safety issues yesterday, the airport authority was granted a 24-hour injunction to keep airport limo drivers picking up passengers instead of picketing roads. But as the drivers didn't have time to organize legal counsel, they will be in court this morning to argue their side of the story.
The cluster of drivers cheered when Rajinder Singh, president of the Airport Taxi Cab Association, stood up on the wooden stairway of a small portable building located in the middle of the lot and promised to continue to fight for the right to protest.
Connie Turner, spokeswoman for the GTAA, said it was very pleased that the injunction was granted.
"We don't want to block these people from protesting, we just don't want them to block the roads," she said.
As an alternative, Ms. Turner said, the protesters could picket outside the terminal where they would retain full visibility and have a chance to explain themselves to the public.
Mr. Singh said that drivers' associations were notified of the court proceedings only half an hour beforehand and didn't have time to get a lawyer on such short notice. If the injunction is lifted after they've had their day in court, traffic will be backed up at the airport again this afternoon. In the meantime, Mr. Singh said it was business as usual as drivers promised to abide by the law.
"We want to win the public's sympathy," he said, but added that with their type of protest, "you cannot win the sympathy of everyone."
The limo drivers are mad because the GTAA has said that it will only give licences -- which allow limos to pick travellers up at the airport -- to companies instead of independent drivers. The companies, Mr. Singh said, are middlemen who rip off the drivers by charging thousands of dollars a month for a licence that costs up to $600 a month.
He would rather see licences go to individual drivers based on seniority.
But the airport authority said that licensing individual drivers costs too much and has suggested that the independent drivers form a co-op.
"We feel we've made concessions to this group," Ms. Turner said.
Mr. Singh said that the co-op solution wouldn't ensure that the most senior and able drivers would be allowed licences.
Because of increasing air travel through Pearson, six months ago the GTAA proposed to create 60 new limo permits. That number has since dropped to 40.
Mr. Singh said that those permits aren't necessary -- it's only hard to find a ride during peak times, which can be accommodated by outside cabs. But if more permits are to be issued, independent drivers want more control over who gets one.
They say issuing more licences will negatively affect their business.
Travellers expecting to head to the airport later today are advised to listen to the news and give themselves extra time to get there. They should also consider wearing comfortable walking shoes.