Minicab strike action delayed for "at least two weeks" after council talksTHERE will be no further strike action among minicab drivers for at least two weeks after union bosses held “positive” talks with Bolton Council.
Members of the Bolton Private Hire Association met with council leader Cliff Morris yesterday following Monday’s major protest when hundreds of cars caused disruption across the whole borough and angry drivers stormed the town hall to protest.
The drivers are upset after the council signed off plans to raise the price of licence fees and renewals for private hire and hackney drivers, which came about after a landmark ruling in Westminster.
The council has argued that it has responded to a national review — which states that licences should cover council costs — and has taken extra measures to stagger any increases to help drivers.
But drivers poured into the town centre on Monday before marching into the council’s One Stop Shop, repeatedly chanting “we won’t pay”.
The union had promised more action to follow Monday’s demonstrations, but will now wait after Cllr Morris asked for two weeks to look into the matter.
Union chair Yasir Amir said: “We met Cllr Morris yesterday morning and received a positive response, he said he will look into the case and asked for two weeks to do so before he will come back to us.
“We are prepared to hold everything for that period to see what he has to say, but if nothing changes then there is likely to be more action — but we are hopeful of movement.”
Reflecting on Monday’s widespread disruption, Mr Amir said: “I think it had an effect and hopefully helped us to get our message across.”
Cllr Morris agreed that the meeting had been held in a positive manner, but said he was unable to give answers without looking further into the issues.
He said: “I told them I would take it away and look at one or two things but I couldn’t give them any answers there and then.”
source:
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/138 ... cil_talks/
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