Taxi Driver Online

Birmingham Evening Mail

December 19, 2008 Friday

Taxi drivers in NEC row;

Closed shop claims over use of cab rank

BYLINE: Neil Elkes LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENT

THE Birmingham NEC has been slammed for selling a "closed shop" deal to a taxi union and stopping independent black cab drivers picking up passengers from its venues.

Only members of the Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association, who pay a levy of up to pounds 200 a year plus their pounds 70 membership fee, will be allowed to stop at a new taxi rank outside the LG Arena and exhibition halls.

The association has offered an undisclosed five figure sum to secure exclusive access to the NEC for five years.

But non-association members are fuming that the NEC, which is part owned by Birmingham City Council taxpayers, is restricting their trade.

It reverses a policy adopted by New Street Station recently which opened its taxi rank to all black cabs for a 20p pay as you go charge, added to the passenger's fare.

Ron Pearson, of the Transport and General Workers Union, said: "There has always been open access. This amounts to a closed shop and a restriction on trade. There are hundreds of drivers who are not members of the association and they are not happy.

"They are less likely to want to take someone to the NEC if they cannot pick a fare going back. They will effectively boycott the NEC."

But the association claimed that it was improving the service and image of Birmingham.

Secretary Mohammed Halim said: "We have a strict code of conduct for members. Their cabs are clean and they are presentable so we give the right image to visitor. If not their access to the NEC rank can be suspended.

"When there was a free-forall there were shabby private hire and black cabs turning up. No-one wants to get into a dirty cab or see a driver wearing old unwashed tracksuit bottoms. Our members conduct themselves in a proper manner.

"We only charge a fee because we had to pay for this contract, I would rather we did not."

He said that unrestricted access was a problem at New Street Station because cabs line up and often block surrounding streets to get to the rank for a guaranteed pick-up.

A spokesman for the NEC said that no formal deal has been signed, only the taxi rank would be restricted, and cabs could pick up and drop off anywhere else at the complex.

He said: "We can confirm that we are currently in negotiation to find a preferred taxi supplier for The NEC site and while we have been speaking with Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association, no formal agreement has currently been signed."
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Okay....will they now have a go at the PH firms who buy station rights and shopping centres?

No?

Didnt think so.

I'm so glad our station is on public land and any cab can use it

CC

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

The problem the NEC have is that unlike Rail stations and Airports who can back up their restrictions by way of bye-laws the NEC cannot. I should imagine they would have to prosecute under trespass laws, unless they employed security or used a barrier system.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Ahh...I see thanks for clearing that up.

Still if the TOA are so bothered about scruffy drivers who dont wash perhaps they can write to the council and ask for a condition or byelaw to by applied to all driver licenses in respect of a dress code.

That will, i'm sure, make them very popular

regards

CC

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

Is there going to be somebody from the association there to check that all the drivers are clean shaven with clean clothes on.



Is that rather not pay for the contract or rather not charge a fee

I don't believe anything that is paid for by the rate payer in any % should be up for this type of abuse. How can the NEC justify it.

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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 would say Yes....they're all association members.



I would say they either have the contract for staff and the sole usage of the rank is part of the contract.....or they have paid for sole usage of the rank.

It can be justified by the council the same terms as dumping all their money in a bank in Iceland.....it paid in the long term.

CC

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

Oh well, that explains everything

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

Good....here to help

CC

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