Taxi Driver Online

Leeds cabbies join union to fight age war

07 February 2009
By Peter Lazenby

HUNDREDS of private hire taxi drivers in Leeds attended a packed public meeting to air their grievances over proposed new council regulations which they say could hit their jobs.

As reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds City Council is to consider proposals to reduce the age of cars which can be used for private hire and taxi purposes from eight years to six. The private hire drivers protested that they had not been consulted and called for talks with the council.

Now they have launched their own branch of the general union GMB to represent them.

They organised a meeting in Woodsley Road Multicultural Community Centre, attended by union organisers.

Driver Javaid Akhtar said: "We decided to join the union and we will organise an association within the GMB. We will have our own branch. We are initially aiming at 500 members.

"The meeting unanimously passed two resolutions – we reject the council proposals to reduce the age of cars which can be used from eight to six, and to join the GMB.

"People felt it was time to get united and challenge the council."
GMB organiser Bill Chard said: "The drivers have lots of issues and feel pretty shabbily treated by the Leeds Licensing Authority. The biggest issue is of course the proposed change to the age of cars. Presently you can buy one six years old and run it till it is eight, but the proposal is to restrict to buying at four years and run till six.

"Obviously in this economic downturn this will force many relatively low-paid drivers to abandon their jobs and go onto benefits.

"The GMB is proud to offer our support to private hire taxi drivers in Leeds."

There are more than 5,000 private hire cabs in Leeds and between 500 and 550 Hackney cabs – those that can be legally hailed at the roadside.

A Leeds council spokesman said the results of a full inspection of more than 5,000 private hire and Hackney carriage taxis will be given to licensing chiefs next month.

He said several options over how to deal with a high failure rate of vehicles will be discussed at that meeting. Any new regulations would seek a balance between public safety and fairness to private hire drivers.
"No decisions have been taken," the spokesman added.

Leeds City Council said a large number of private hire cars fail safety tests, but that no decision on new regulations has yet been made.

_________________
Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Looks like a letter to the local rag got folks moving.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/l ... 4921392.jp

Quite a well written letter IMO.

_________________
IDFIMH

You can legally hail a PH in Leeds I have witnessed it, several times in 2 nights.
one hack from there said the council dont give a feck

You cant legally hail a PH.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Well unless your a licensing officer of St Albans, then you can make it up as you go along!!

Regards
BB

_________________
Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Perhaps Blackpool is next on the list?

That recruitment drive should be interesting.

Who Know's, What I can say is the GMB PDB are willing to meet with any H/C - P/H drivers who are interested in the benifits of being part of a large National Trade Union.

Regards
BB

_________________
Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Allegedly

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Call it what you like, I heard the recording!

Regards
BB

_________________
Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

I'm sure you did, ss did many others, unfortunately if I had a number of boxes to put it into, it would be the one marked bollox.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Leave the good guys alone

Published Date: 28 January 2009
RE the age rule change for private hire vehicles. It's plain stupid.
Can I, on behalf of the GMB licensed drivers section, add our full support to the Leeds private hire drivers fighting the proposed changes to their vehicle age limits?

A number of concerns arise out of the article in your paper that appears to show that Leeds licensing authority don't quite know what they are doing.

Firstly, it's the complete lack of consultation with the drivers. As the council has deemed them "fit and proper" to drive a licensed vehicle, it's strange that they don't view them as being "fit and proper" to be fully consulted on their livelihoods.

Secondly, by proposing these changes Leeds council are going against the recent best practice guidance issued by the Government.

In it, the Government are quite clear and correct when they tell councils such as Leeds that: "It is perfectly possible for an older vehicle to be in good condition. So the setting of an age limit beyond which a local authority will not license vehicles may be arbitrary and inappropriate."

But perhaps the most telling part relating to these proposals is that it is a clear admission by Licensing Leeds that they are not fit to do the job they are paid for.

If there are so many dangerous licensed vehicles driving around the city of Leeds, then why isn't the council prosecuting those drivers and owners? In other words, go after the bad guys and leave the good guys alone.

Michael Hildreth, GMB National (Provincial) Private Hire and Taxi Secretary

YOU SHOULD COME TO LEEDS ON A FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT TO SEE THESE GOOD GUYS AT WORK MR HILDRETH

Ordinarily I would jump on your post with lots of support and say your right.

But from memory aren't you the one who remarked Brian Heptinstalls departure from Leeds as 'good riddance'?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Certainly not captain cab I think you will find it was shadwell cabby but don,t quote me, I have been working with Brian for the last month he has only just managed to leave his post at the end of January

In that case I offer you my apologies.

Brian is a true gentleman and a person I consider a friend, I was quite disturbed by someone from Leeds trying to discredit him, I do hope you appreciate that.

I also hope you lot get your (and pardon the expression) effing fingers out and rejoin the NTA!

However, as you have already said in your post, similar comments to my own on another site.....we are actually in agreement

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Apologies accepted, and yes Brian is a true gentleman I still don't think he will be able to leave the trade altogether I'm sure he will be calling in the office I don't think he can keep away

As for the NTA the members voted against joining at the last AGM