Taxi Driver Online

Guys, I never once chased or asked anyone to leave this forum.

I merely stated that in my opinion (and only my opinion) it was not appropriate and probably unwise for Directors etc of our large Taxi companies to comment on other firms, how they run their business and to get involved in on-line jousting.

I’ve worked in business for many years at a senior level and its regarded pretty much as a ‘no go’ area to get involved on social media when discussing details of your business, your competitors or to get involved in slanging matches and tit for tat conversations.

I also never once blamed Les and Dode for the failed merger, but I did question the process and the logic as is my right to do, as the results had a direct impact on me and my potential earnings.

Had the merger went ahead who knows if it would have worked and we would all have been better off?

I for one was willing to go for it and could see little/no downside hence my questions to Les re how the vote within City Cabs managed to land as a NO.

I could and still cannot understand or see any logic as to how this happened given the outcome of the merger study.

I still have my own thoughts on what happened but that is exactly what they are ‘my thoughts’ and it’s not going to change what’s happened in the past.

Would a merged company have had a PHC fleet? I would have thought not but that would have been for the Committee and the members to decide.

Les re respect, I have tried and hope I have been respectful to you and I apologise if you feel I have not. It was not my intention.

I do however believe that respect must be earned, and there are and have been to many decisions and actions by many across the spectrum that have left a distinctly’ bad taste’ in the mouth. It would be hard to respect the decisions or the individuals who keep making these decisions and who defend their actions whilst continually looking to blame others.

I’m not sure what the answer is going forward re the trade uniting and working in unison for the benefit of all members and ultimately all black cab drivers.

There are massive divides right now and there still seems little genuine appetite to work together for the common good, rather than the benefit of individuals and individual companies.

There does however appear to be a lot of lip service paid between individuals and companies but that’s as far as it seems to go.

Until this changes (and there is no point saying get that other mob to start the ball rolling) we will all still be having the same issues and squabbles 1/2/3 years from now, but in a diluted world as the Apps and PHC will be much stronger than they already are.

Les you have stated previous actions and achievements in the industry in your attempts to move it forward.

I can’t and won’t land the ball with you but you know what needs to be done to get the ball rolling as do many others.

Ego’s aside, is someone going to pick up the mantle and make the 1st move????

Actions speak louder than 1000 words, but I do appreciate and understand that any progress/movement forward is a big ask and it will take a mountain of time and effort.

Any takers ?

Not going to get drawn into this one but for the fact I joined a radio company from working the street because I was excited by the prospect of the proposed merger, I posted many positives and I knew for a fact that Les was also as passionate as me concerning a way ahead for our trade, Les made no secret that he voted Yes to the merger as I did also, the reason it failed Jon, a High turnout, simple but fact, high turnouts in any voting can turn out the un-expected, it was widely expected the votes by the two companies would take the proposal to the next stage of the process, any kind of significant merger has to go through processes, we can't just rush in, I was at the egm, I spoke at the egm, the egm was fair 100%, the high turnout and the speech from our committee man who stood against won the day, it was a democratic decision and a fair one at that, everyone who knows me, knows I like to offer my opinion, I can agree and disagree with Trade representatives, that's democracy

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

Anyone reading this can understand your frustrations Jon. I voted Yes in the independence debate and was gutted Scotland didn't take a chance, that's sadly democracy. What if we had another merger vote and this time Central voted no? Or city did again?

If the airport had demanded a PH fleet how would the new merged company have coped with this?

The trade has some of the most poisonous set of f*cks I've ever come across who like to spread rumours and supposed in the know tittle tattle. These people would have to be quiet for the wounds to heal.

A merger is probably now out of the question but at some stage the two companies must have correspondence and a strategy that's acceptable to both parties for securing work.

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"I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork."

Bye Artur, I'm leaving you and Les to it but you don't half talk some shi*e!



Seriously Artur, good luck with the Cab *iggers. I think you are going to need it.

"Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."

George Bernard Shaw

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I fully accept the will of the members and that democracy is what it is.

I was just curious as to the 'why' behind it as there did not appear to be any logic given the content of the report and the recommendations made to take it to the next stage.

I also voted yes last September but understood that the will of the people voted against what i wanted/believed in and whilst hard to swallow that's democracy.

I was also unaware that one of the City committee stood up and spoke against the merger prior to the vote.

Would be interesting to know/understand what case he made against the proposal and also if anyone who supported it stood up and countered ?

Jon, both sides had there say on the proposals, there's always going to be the voting with the head over the heart and vice versa question but the issue/proposal was well presented and well debated, you are not going to get who said what or who questioned who, the vote happened, it was close but not close enough.

Will it ever happen, no it won't happen as a merger but could as a takeover, We members at City seem happy with the way things are managed, a few tweaks yes but no major concerns, it seems though and I'm not just highlighting you that there is discontent at CRT amongst a significant number of members at the way CRT is being managed, maybe you should channel your energy and have a look at your Articles of Association, constitution, see if there is anyway you can better democracy with CRT, I'm not saying there are wrongs but there seems to be something harbouring amongst some CRT members.

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

I would expect that there would be an area of discontent within the City Cabs membership if their Committee had behaved in this way.
Throwing this level of financial resources at objecting to and then appealing against a service that we had proposed to provide ourselves. The truth is we would not have pursued this course of action, we would have taken it on the chin and moved on as we have done many times recently losing out on all off the major highly discounted contracts.
I am assuming Jon that you have not read the CRT bid for the airport tender or how they were proposing to provide the choice of vehicle required.

Perhaps, and just perhaps, this difference between the two companies and how they approach the way they accept defeat may have been a factor in the decision made by our members, through a democratic vote, to reject the merger.
Although the merger was rejected we could have still agreed to work loosely together for the benefit of both sets of members and drivers but unfortunately the bully (fastblacks) boys took over.
I dare say as new guys came into the trade the old animosities will drift into the past, common sense may prevail but human nature doesn't always work like that. If someone slaps you in the face the natural reaction is to kick him in the balls in retaliation. Hence the split up of Forward Travel Scotland and the unsustainable discounts on offer.

There were a few City Cabs members who spoke up for and against the merger.
I can speak personally and although I voted for the merger I did have my concerns regarding the poisonous undercurrent that has way to much influence at CRT. They used to have influence through the nastiness of their Fastbalcks site, now they operate through Facebook sites. If you want to look at why the merger didn't go ahead instead of looking at some conspiracy theory within City Cabs look within your own company. I would suggest you have a learning curve ahead of you.
My appearance on Social Media sites trying to put a truthful account forward will be the least of your concerns.

One final point, if the two companies ever come together it would never be through a takeover by either company the only proper and fare way it would happen in the future would be through a merger. That will only come when there are enough like minded people on both sides through the next generation coming through.

Through some of my posts on this site I have referred to the FastBacks Site.

It was my understanding that this site was responsible for some pretty unpleasant contributions regarding individuals working within the taxi business.
I received a phone call today telling me that I have in fact got it wrong.

Fastblacks was the original name of the site and it ran under this name for some time. Unfortunately, through time, it sank to the level that we see today within the Edinburgh section on this forum. The original administrator, despite efforts to maintain a certain standard of contribution from the participating taxi drivers, gave up and it was taken over and renamed The Taxi Forum.
After that it hit rock bottom and any chance of having a reasonable debate or using it as a useful way of passing on taxi related issues disappeared.
Not surprisingly it still has one contributor on this site in common.
I would like to apologise to the originator of Fastblacks who phoned me today to point out my mistake. He originally set up Fastblacks in the hope that it would be used as a positive tool to help the drivers with various issues and or topics of the day but the numpties took over.

Again please accept my apologies for referring to FastBlacks in a disparaging way.I pass it all onto the drivers who took over the forum under the name of Taxi Forum

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

A little parting gift for you Gary.
Here is to your next 10 destructive years.
It may be to painful to watch it all first time around in its entirety but stick with it and perhaps you could break it up into sections over a few visits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4w96HBq8yY

It also applies to Mr G and Mr W who found solace and comfort in their destructive contributions through the The Taxi Forum.

It also applies to Mr G and Mr W who found solace and comfort in their destructive contributions through the The Taxi Forum [/quote]

Way to go Les.

The 6th characteristic.
The bitter person rehearses the past over and over again.

10,315 posts in seven years.

Les you must feel really burned to come up with this shi*e but just to let you know, apart from having a giggle at your expense. I am not that interested. Sorry to disappoint... I've got better things to do with my time at present, than ripping the pi** out of a greedy, small-minded delusional narcissistic character like you. Oh and Les, your trade awaits to be dragged the rest of the way down into the gutter. So jog on son...

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I guess that's the equivalent of kicking me with your left leg as I am trying to sort out your broken right leg.
Or in other words
"A bitter person uses language characterised by hostility".

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I've got better things to do with my time

Really, after 10,361 posts over 7 years I sicerley hope you have found another outlet for your hostility.

It is surprising that you have a detailed opinion of someone that you have never met.