Taxi Driver Online

Dudley taxi drivers issuing strike action threat

Dozens of private hire taxi drivers are threatening industrial action including strikes and slow driving after councillors refused a change in policy over car colours.

Taxi drivers in Dudley say they are disappointed by the decision to throw out their calls for the single white colour scheme for private hire cars to be abolished.

They claim the policy is squeezing their incomes as white cars have become more expensive due to the popularity of the colour with celebrities. Members of Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association are holding a meeting tonight where a vote will be taken deciding whether they want to pursue action.

The association is already taking legal advice to see if they can mount a challenge.

Group chairman Shaz Saleem said: “There are the majority of our members who have been asking for a strike but at the moment we are keeping our options open. We are now taking legal advice and we are going to hold a meeting when members can discuss the way forward. I’m not a fan of strikes and protests like slow driving but we’ll have a vote at the meeting and go from there.

“But we can’t rule anything out. If that is what our members want then so be it.

More than 1,000 drivers and customers had signed a petition calling for the rules to be changed. But councillors on Dudley Council’s taxis committee voted by a narrow margin of five to four to reject the proposal amid safety fears.

Mr Saleem, who is managing director at Sedgley-based Beacon Taxis and Express Taxis, in Halesowen, added white cars can cost up to £2,000 extra, forcing some drivers to pay for re-sprays on other cars to comply.

A report compiled for Dudley Council’s taxis committee by the authority’s director of corporate resources, Philip Tart, said: “Over the years there have been several serious incidents involving passengers being sexually assaulted, injured and other criminal offences where the Police have been able to identify the vehicle as a Dudley licensed vehicle by the colour.”

source: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013 ... on-threat/

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

That's not entirely appropriate

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I think Dudley is a pretty f*cked up place

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

It would be. Lenny Henry comes from there.

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Grandad,

Heres some free advice
1.have your strike BUT dont announce its timing!!!
2. Get Unionised and beat the shytte out of these [edited by admin] councillors.
3, elect a new spokesman this ones a PRATT

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Protests on taxi colour rule to be held in Dudley

Dozens of taxi drivers in Dudley are planning three ‘slow drives’ through the town in protest after councillors refused a change in policy over car colours.

They claim the council rules to only allow white private hire vehicles is squeezing their incomes as the colour is more expensive due to its current popularity with celebrities.

However, councillors say a single colour is safer for customers as it makes taxis more recognisable.

Members of Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association have now voted to stage the slow drives, which will go past Dudley Council House, to highlight their concerns.

But they have decided against a full strike, saying they do not want to cause problems for their customers.

Group chairman Shaz Saleem said the association is also taking legal advice to see if it can mount a challenge against the council’s restriction.

He added: “I welcome the move from our members because they want to send out a message to the council that we want to be treated with respect.

“The majority of our members voted against going on strike because if we had gone out then it would have been unfair on the customers who have shown us a lot of support.

“We have many people who rely on us to take them to hospital appointments, shopping, to the airport and other customers who have disabilities for which we provide a service.

“There will be a slow drive organised because all the taxi drivers want to show the council the strength of feeling over this.”

More than 1,000 drivers and customers had signed a petition calling for the rules to be changed.

Mr Saleem, who is managing director at Sedgley-based Beacon Taxis and Express Taxis, in Halesowen, said that white cars can cost up to £2,000 extra, forcing some drivers to pay for expensive re-sprays on other cars to comply with the rules.

The association wanted at least another colour option, such as silver or grey, to be added to the rules to enable drivers to purchase cheaper vehicles.

But the council’s taxi committee voted by a narrow margin of five to four to reject the proposal last week.

source: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013 ... in-dudley/

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

Fekk the customers, this geezer spokesman is a mug and so are the drivers STRIKE now you mugs while its cold and the punters will freeze

And as for suing the council fekkk me dont they ever learn CRETINS

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

They f*cked it up when they built the Merryhill Shopping Centre years ago.

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

Angry minicab drivers vow to bring Dudley to a standstill


Shaz Saleem from Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association with angry taxi drivers who are planning a go-slow protest


ANGRY minicab drivers have vowed to bring Dudley to a standstill in a mass protest against strict council regulations.

A row about rules which mean Dudley borough private hire cars must be painted white came to a head at a meeting of the authority's taxi's committee last month.

Councillors threw out an application for a relaxation of the rules from the Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association, who argue white has become a popular colour for car buyers which has increased demand and pushed up prices.

Up to 100 drivers are now planning to hold a go-slow protest in Dudley town centre on Wednesday April 24, the date of the next taxi committee meeting, to put pressure on councillors for a U-turn.

Shaz Saleem, chairman of Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association, said: "We don't want to disrupt the public but we need to send a message to councillors - we want a common sense approach and we didn't get that.

"It is a disgrace, they didn't really listen to us and their decision was not made for a genuine reason, it was personal opinion."

Unlike neighbouring boroughs, where more than one colour is allowed, Dudley insists on white only and Mr Saleem says this gives drivers registered outside the borough an unfair advantage because their costs are lower.

Councillors at the meeting were handed a 1,000-name petition backing a change in the rules.

The meeting also heard a statement from Dudley's top cop, chief superintendent Stuart Johnson, which said it is important private hire vehicles are a single colour to make them clearly identifiable in police investigations.

However chief supt Johnson added: "There was little hard evidence to support the premise that a single vehicle colour was in itself safer.

"There were no data or studies to suggest that cities such as Birmingham and Manchester, who allowed a choice of colour, suffer a higher proportion of violence or sexual offences as a consequence."

The Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association, which has around 600 members, says white cars can cost up to £2,000 more than similar vehicles in other colours.

Mr Saleem added the majority of drivers are opposed to an all-out strike but the association is planning legal action against the one-colour rule.

He added: "Their argument is they are doing it for public safety, Hackney carriages are allowed to be any colour but private hire vehicles are only allowed to be one colour.

"They don't have a legitimate argument."

source: http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/1 ... standstil/

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

always wise to leave the protests till after easter and during the school holidays

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

Dudley drivers face disruption as taxi row rolls onto the streets


A ROW about taxi regulations is set to bring disruption to Dudley's streets tomorrow when drivers stage a go-slow protest.

Members of the Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association are calling for a change in the rules which force Dudley registered vehicles to be white.

Drivers argue white cars are more expensive to buy because the colour is currently popular which is pushing up their costs.

They say the council should allow an alternative colour, as neighbouring authorities do, but Dudley is refusing to budge.

The go-slow protest will take place in streets around the Council House in the town centre at 5pm on Monday April 15, earlier than the previous date planned by drivers, ahead of a meeting of the full council.

http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/103529 ... e_streets/

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

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

Ok said in a Dudley acent, yoo can hav any shade of white is that ok for yoo

Dudley Tory leader slams taxi protest plan

THE leader of Dudley Conservative Party has slammed protest plans by borough taxi drivers to bring Dudley to a standstill tonight (Monday).

Members of the Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association are preparing for a go-slow protest on the streets around the Council House in the town centre from around 5pm tonight - ahead of a meeting of the full council.

Taxi drivers vowed to organise the protest after Dudley Council refused to change rules which force borough registered private hire vehicles to be white.

Drivers argue white cars are more expensive to buy because the colour is currently popular and they say the council should allow an alternative colour, as neighbouring authorities do.

Shaz Saleem, chairman of Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association, said the go-slow was about sending a message to councillors that taxi firms want a “common sense approach”.

But Dudley’s Tory party leader, councillor Patrick Harley, has slammed the protest plan and criticised Mr Saleem, who was last year vying to become a Labour councillor in Kingswinford.

Cllr Harley said: “As a wannabe politician he ought to behave more responsibly. Trying to bring Dudley to a standstill isn’t the responsible way to go about it.

“The Labour group should have a word in his ear.

“I’d encourage taxi firms that don’t go on strike to apply for the additional trade and keep it.”

Mr Saleem hit back, saying: “It’s a non-political matter.

“As chairman I don’t decide on everything that happens. My members voted for the protest. It’s going to happen with or without me. It’s got nothing to do with politics. It’s something the drivers felt passionate about.

“They just want to send a message out to the council.”

source: http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/103563 ... test_plan/

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