Taxi Driver Online

Union plans legal action over council wheelchair taxi dispute


A taxi drivers’ union is planning to take legal action against Dundee City Council in a row over wheelchair accessible vehicles.

GMB Scotland has made the decision amid a three-year dispute with the council.

The current system — which the GMB describes as a “two-tier workforce” — requires some drivers to buy wheelchair accessible vehicles, which start at £19,000, whereas other drivers are allowed to buy a vehicle from as little as £1,000.

GMB officer Drew Duffy said: “Dundee City Council seem to be happy with this two-tier system — all we want is a level playing for all taxi drivers.

“We have drivers who were operational prior to changes in 2003, who could purchase any vehicle. Then after Dundee City Council changed their policy on new taxi operators, drivers had to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles.

“The problem is some of these drivers, prior to the changes in 2003, have now retired but their badges are still active.

“Their vehicles are operating in the city driven by other drivers, so they don’t have to adhere to the changes in the law. I believe this represents around 40% of the taxi drivers in Dundee.”

Licensing committee chairman Stewart Hunter said he understood the frustrations of the taxi drivers but insisted the committee has to decide what is best for the public.

He said: “We have a policy at the moment where the fleet is mixed. I understand their frustrations because it is costing some drivers more than others to buy vehicles.

“But our focus, first and foremost, is what is best for the Dundee public and they want a mixed fleet. We had a consultation around four years ago with disability groups, which the taxi liaison group were present at. We tested out a series of different vehicles and it was apparent that not all passengers were able to access a disabled vehicle which is why we decided to operate a mixed fleet.”

But Drew said: “I would argue that Edinburgh and Glasgow already operate a service where all taxis are wheelchair accessible so I can’t understand why we can’t. We have a date set in November for the case but I hope we can reach a decision prior to this. All we ask is the council to review the system currently in place.”

source: https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/u ... i-dispute/

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

Have I got this right? The GMB are fighting for all vehicles to be WAV which will mean some loss of income for some drivers who currently take passenger who find it difficult to get into a WAV and will be forced to use Private Hire instead.

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Grandad,

yup sounds like it

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Does GMB stand for GOT MINCED BRAINS?

well if trotsky is a typical example of a union rep more like Groggy mullerred befuddled

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Presumably their advocating the policy's of their membership, which makes a change from the normal squeal from the NTA "it aint fair Sir"

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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

The consultation that the dundee city council are going on about 4/5 years ago there was no repersentation
for wheelchair operators. There was also a local survey at this time with no questions about w/chairs. also no
questions about young mums and buggys. Less than 60 survey sheets where returned. If you read the dundee
city council survey 2016 you will see the problems that people are having with wheelchair cars at peek times.
Best of all you now get wheelchair saloon type taxis so whats the problem with a uniformed fleet for visitors
and disability coming to DUNDEE

How many members does the GMB have in Dundee and how many of them drive saloons and how many drive WAVs?

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Grandad,

I think they are fighting for equality, and good on them for that.

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IDFIMH

Yes it is great when equality means paying out more to give a service that many customers don't want.

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Grandad,

How can any right minded cabby say it's right for his mates/colleagues to have to fund £30,000+ motors but not them?

Sorry but I think your viewpoint, on this matter, stinks.

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IDFIMH

I think all areas should have mixed fleets. Why should everyone have to have a WAV when most will never see a wheelchair passenger?

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Grandad,

to Grandad and all

1) Is it fair to allow 40% of Dundee`s Taxi Operators to place in service cheap domestic saloon cars with many different makes and models to choose from some from new starting @£5.995 on the road (Dacia Sandero).
2)is it fair that 60% of dundee taxi operators has to place and can only place in service very expensive WAV taxis thats on dundee city councils approved list starting @£18.995 (Peugeot Premier).
3)is it fair that 60% of Dundee's Taxi operators although not commenced in law yet but soon to be section 165 equality act 2010 imposes duties to give assistance to people in wheelchairs and the other 40% of taxi operators are exempt from this duty.

a mixed fleet taxi policy does not work its unfair bias and unlawful this policy was advocated by the unite union the dta and the businessman who have an intrest in taxi offices as they all have saloon taxis this is a financial gain to them the council back in 2011 were going to change to 100% wav fleet as this was the only fair option available and acknowledged that WAV operators were aggrieved at having to place in service more expensive wav taxis so what happend then in 2011?
Dundee city council has a duty under section 149 equality act 2010 Public sector equality duty they are passing that duty on to the 60%wav operators and asking them to place expensive wav taxis on service and giving the other 40% a golden hand shake do you or anyone think this is fairness in trade a level playing field.

I think most of TDO have thought Dundee council have been mental for years

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

It works just fine in many other towns and cities. Why are you campaigning for a 100% WAV fleet and not a policy of choice for all owners/drivers?

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Grandad,