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I think that if the saloons refuse they will either loose there licence until they attend, or the council will make them go all wav
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| More mixed fleet peace and harmony http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10096 |
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| Author: | Fae Fife [ Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | More mixed fleet peace and harmony |
Taxi row brews over disability course By Steven Bell and Alan Wilson SALOON CAR drivers in the Dundee taxi trade are refusing to attend mandatory disability awareness training—and are prepared to go to court to defend their position. One trade association figure claimed the two-hour course was a waste of time for his members, but a rival organisation accused the saloon drivers of discrimination. The training has been organised by Tayside Police and covers issues such as handling wheelchairs and how people with disabilities should be treated. Graeme Stephen of Dundee Taxi Association said last night members of his association and the local trade union would not attend. He said, “We have already done training but they are now showing you how to push a wheelchair into a car. How can a saloon car operator push a wheelchair into a car? “We don’t see what the point is, and we don’t see why we should have to give up two or three hours of our time when we could be out earning.” The saloon car drivers’ position has angered Dundee Wheelchair Taxi Association, which called on the council to “deal with” those not taking part in the training. “We regard saloon car taxi drivers and operators, the Dundee Taxi Association and the TGWU of being blatantly discriminatory against disabled people and wheelchair users in particular,” said Erik Thoresen of the association. “Every taxi driver in Dundee was supposed to go through the mandatory disabled awareness course, but we’ve been told that saloon car drivers are refusing to take the course. “We believe they are discriminating against disabled people and it’s high time they were dealt with. It’s in the terms and conditions of their licences so why are they getting away with this? They are in total breach of their licence. “The union should be making their members take the course and the council should be threatening any drivers who refuse with taking away their licences. “We believe it’s a blatant attempt by the saloon drivers to yet again go against something the council want them to do.” A Dundee City Council spokesman confirmed all taxi drivers in Dundee have to take part in disability awareness courses as it is a condition of their licence. “This applies to drivers of all vehicles, whether (they are) saloon cars or wheelchair-accessible vehicles,” the spokesman said. “New courses organised by Tayside Police are replacing those previously held at the Mackinnon Centre. The public have helped input additional elements into the new courses and the cost is included in the taxi driver licence fee. “Priority on the courses is being given to drivers of wheelchair users but a course involving a mixture of them and saloon car drivers has been held and feedback from the drivers themselves indicated they found it to be an excellent experience.” Mr Stephen, who is chairman of DTA, admitted that there could be a “messy” stand-off, adding, “If they want to go to court it’s up to them.” He said a lot of non-member saloon drivers were of the same opinion about the course, but stressed it was nothing to do with discrimination. Mr Stephen said drivers of saloon cars had helped disabled passengers into their vehicles for years and knew how to fold a wheelchair into their boot. “It’s that old saying: you don’t teach your granny to suck eggs,” he added. Chris Elder of the TGWU union said he had written to the chief executive of Dundee City Council, Alex Stephen, saying members would not be taking part in the training. “The situation is that our members can’t afford the time off—not with so many taxis operating in Dundee—and end up losing a half-day’s earnings,” said Mr Elder, taxi branch secretary of the union. “What we are trying to say is, how many awareness courses do we have to do? We did a course at the Mackinnon Centre and people took a lot of time off there. “If someone from the council goes on a course then they get paid for it, but taxi drivers can’t afford to take the time off.” http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008 ... 6473t0.asp |
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| Author: | skippy41 [ Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Place your bets now
I think that if the saloons refuse they will either loose there licence until they attend, or the council will make them go all wav |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
The rights and wrongs of this will not matter in the end. What will matter is there is no way any court will deem disability training to be too onerous a task for taxi drivers. No chance at all. |
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| Author: | toots [ Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:27 pm ] |
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If it's terms of their licence then surely there's nothing they can do but attend the course. Having said that they may not also be driving a saloon vehicle and it's typically narrow minded of them to think so |
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| Author: | bloodnock [ Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:42 pm ] |
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toots wrote: If it's terms of their licence then surely there's nothing they can do but attend the course. Having said that they may not also be driving a saloon vehicle and it's typically narrow minded of them to think so
your right Toots....and they must be a sad bunch if they cannot be Ars*d to give the council a couple of hours of their time in order to Make things Easier for the wheelchair bound, its not like theyre having to spend mountains of cash..just spare some time. It was this same type of Stupid Scottish Hard man Militancy and attitude that killed off the scottish Car making industry and other once great Industrial Businesses up here....Idiots!!! |
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| Author: | tx_op [ Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:20 pm ] |
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I am of the opinion that the said Union and Association should apologise to the disabled community regarding their selfish comments ! Isn't it also farcical that a Union and Association who knowingly condone and represent black market operations within the Trade dare to mention the word court and, questions legalities... 
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MR'S STEPHEN & ELDER... The noose is tightening... 
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| Author: | toots [ Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:24 pm ] |
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Is there a course that is available on how to deal with people with all kinds of disability. Not all disabled people are in wheelchairs perhaps they should attend that course instead. Then if they do ever obtain a HC they will have attend that course as well or better still combined both courses and then they wouldn't have any excuses not to attend. |
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| Author: | agabbycabbie [ Sat Nov 29, 2008 3:58 am ] |
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Not being disabalist, but why should drivers from one area have to do more to retain his/her licence than drivers from another area. why should councils be able to set these conditions, shoudn't they be set on a national level. I have never worked in an industry were the rules and goal posts change from one boundery to the next, i would be pretty fecked off if i had to waste my time doing some thing that a driver from another area didnt have to do. I also hold a HGV licence and them idiots in brussels have decided we have to hold a drivers Certificate of Professional Competence, which all drivers have to hold to keep there licence valid (involves 35 hours of training), renewable every 5 years, but every driver in the country know they will need this to be able to work. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:53 am ] |
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agabbycabbie wrote: Not being disabalist, but why should drivers from one area have to do more to retain his/her licence than drivers from another area.
Maybe it's because the authorities in one area care and the authorities in another area don't. |
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| Author: | grandad [ Sat Nov 29, 2008 9:04 am ] |
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I think it was over 2 years ago that our council made it compulsary for all drivers to attend a DDA course within 12 months. Failure to attend would result in the application to renew your drivers badge would be refused. The council organised a series of trainig courses at a cost of £10 per person and I think it lasted 2 hours. Around half of the drivers that were licensed at the time attended the course. Since then no new drivers or drivers that did not take the course has been refused a badge or renewal and the council have not organised any more courses. 
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