Taxi Driver Online

Airport cabbies outraged at 40% rise in permit fee


FEARS FOR CABBIES: union official Drew Connelly at Glasgow Airport. Picture: Stuart Nimmo

ANGRY airport taxi drivers today claimed they could be forced off the road by a 40% rise in the cost of permits.
Nearly 250 drivers have been ordered to pay £1100 each upfront for the taxi permits, which give them the right to work out of Glasgow Airport.
The cabbies are furious they have only been given two months to settle the bill, which has jumped from £780.
Some cash-strapped drivers are threatening to quit because they can't afford the increase.
The Transport and General Workers' Union is demanding a meeting with airport bosses in a bid to renegotiate the cost of the permits.
Dad-to-be John Anderson, from Riddrie, fears the hefty hike could end his career as a taxi driver.
The 44-year-old said: "My wife Mandy is three months' pregnant, so I need to be watching the pennies now, not spending more.
"To justify this rise I'd need to work at the airport for at least 12 hours a day and even then I'd be lucky to break even. I just don't want to be doing that with a baby on the way.
"That amount of money for a permit is outrageous. All the drivers are flabbergasted at the increase."
Drivers must pay for a permit if they want to pick up passengers from the airport's taxi rank.
In recent years the cost of the special licence has risen in line with inflation.
Cabbie Drew Connelly, TGWU branch secretary at the airport, said: "Drivers are being forced out of their jobs by this increase.
"The union is trying to organise a meeting with the airport to discuss this increase. As it's quite substantial, a lot of our members are asking if they could pay in two instalments."
However, airport owners BAA today insisted cabbies would reap the rewards of the charge.
A spokeswoman said: "With the airport continuing to expand and the number of passengers rising, BAA is investing millions of pounds.
"That investment requires significant resources and we expect taxi operators to share in the costs, just as we do with our retail and airline partners.
"The new charge brings Glasgow taxi operators into line with those in other major airports and represents good value for money at just £3 a day.
"This is the first above-inflation increase in a number of years and is still well below the fee paid by private hire or city centre taxis."

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

In others words if you don't pay up, there are others that will.

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IDFIMH

Thats a disgrace, the T&G is supposed to have a policy of free and open access. If this is the action being taken it will be the straw that broke the camels back with regard my membership.

B. Lucky

Isn't it exactly the same as the problems Cgull had, where the T&G conspired to keep other 100% HCs (including Cgull) out of Brighton Station?

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IDFIMH

I wonder how much the drivers are selling their plates for at the airport? I had heard it was over 30,000 for an airport plate, so cant be that bad if people are buying plates at that price.

I never use the airport cabs, if your not going a long distance then the reaction you get is totally pathetic.

When I say long distance, a job over £20. Your better off phoneing the Hackneys in Glasgow and get them to pick you up

regards

Approx 12 months ago they tried to charge coaches £100 to use airport BUT they wanted every coach on operators licence to pay the fee not just the ones regular visiting the airport. The CPT got involved and threated to drop off passengers outside airport property, they very soon climbed down.
I have a feeling it may be difficult but IF drivers stick together and refuse to pay the extortinate increase and get the local press / TV news involved they may at least get something more realistic.
The airports view no doubt is "divide and conquer".

Mike

What the [edited by admin] a 100% HC, Sussex??

Like I said it would be the straw that broke the camels back and not the only contributing factor.

The policy is simple, a HC should have the right to work throughout the borough in which it is licensed without having to pay extra to work area's where the public require their services.

Other "excuses" were offered by Brighton, as I believe it was the will of the membership, however certain union policies must be followed and this without question is one of them.

I may be wrong, but I suspect those with airport permits are very happy that the other 1000 odd Glasgow cabs don't have them, and I suspect that many of the other 1000 odd cabs, that don't have the permits, will only be too pleased to pay the required fee.

The 'divide and conquer' issue I suspect was dealt with many years ago. And the lads with the permits were quite happy to keep the spoils to themselves.

What goes around, comes around.

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IDFIMH

Actually the airport is in Renfrewshire not Glasgow. Glasgow hacks are not allowed to pick up off the rank at the airport, even if there is no other taxis around.

I take all that back then.

But surely then those airport boys must have no other real work than the airport. Therefore they really haven't got too much negotiating power.

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IDFIMH

A HC that can ply his trade, in his manor, everywhere that every other HC can.

Unlike Brighton and Hove, where only just over half can ply their trade at the station. Fully endorsed I may add, by the bus driver's mob.

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IDFIMH

They can operate in any part of Renfrewshire and sit on the ranks in Paisley if they wish. They pay for the right to rank at the airport which is on BAA property. If they dont want to work the airport then they work the rest of the area.

BAA also have a large area for them to rank in with camera links back to the main rank. There are also people provided by one of the other companies, i.e. rank marshals.

I hope that this answers your question.

I suggest you guys read the book recently written by Jack Clyde where the issue is raised.

Otherwise, I'm in absolute agreement with GA & Sussex

Leaches People, pure and simple and in terms not even the OFT could disunite

tulsablue, you are spot on. drop them off at the gates, see how long it lasts.

wow a militant CC!!

Captain Cab

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

Actually the majority of people arrving at the airport DONT use the airport taxi service. Glasogw International Airport (not Glasgow Prestwick which is 35miles from Glasgow) acutally serves a large area with various local authorities.

If your at the airport around 6am you will see taxis/ph from all parts of the Clyde Valley area and if your into plate spotting then its a good place to be (for for Sussex).

There is also a designated area for taxis/ph to pickup pre-bookings and its for all companies from all areas.

Anyway, there is a very good bus service right outside the terminal which only costs a couple of pounds compared to the large charges the taxis make.

Like I said, its cheaper to get a hack from Glasgow too pick you up.

As for the poor drivers, well, not so poor when they try and sell their plates.

no disgrace the T and G are only trying to renegotiate the cost of permits, nothing says not free and open access,

or are you seriously suggesting there should be no fee at all?

if you are you are bonkers