Taxi Driver Online

Saturday night chaos as taxi drivers strike

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/4243147.Saturday_night_chaos_as_taxi_drivers_strike/

Homecoming residents were left in the cold tonight as taxi drivers across Watford stopped work in protest at midnight.

The latest move in a snowballing campaign against Watford Borough Council's plans to give licences to Three Rivers District taxis saw dozens of drivers refuse to take passengers by Watford Junction station.

“This is a recession and they are trying to take away everything from us. Three Rivers will invade this town and then where will we go?” said Shafiq Ahmed, acting chairman of Watford's Hackney Carriage Drivers Association.

He added: “This is a serious crisis and the council is refusing to listen and understand. We want them to know that this is just the beginning. There will be more protests until they put an immediate stop to Three Rivers licences in Watford.”

Ayaz Butt, a business studies student at Hertfordshire University said the only way he had of supporting his studies was through driving his taxi in Watford.

He added: “In 12 hours a driver will only make an average of £25, £30. What about those people with a mortgage or kids? Now Watford Council is making it even worse.”

Another driver, Imran Ali, said: “The whole of Watford's licensing committee should resign. Dorothy Thornhill should resign. They say it's a recession but they're not being hurt at all. The only person being hurt is Joe Public and us.”

As more drivers joined the protest, more trains arrived at the station and more people struggled to find alternative transport options because of the drivers' decision.

In the end the drivers' fears of Three Rivers and Hertsmere “invading the town” became an, at least temporary, reality, as drivers from other areas came in to fill the gap in services.

One of the protesting drivers noted that this was illegal as these drivers were not covered by insurance if they picked up drivers without a call.

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

The comments from the press blog;

RSIAW, says...

6:11am Sun 29 Mar 09

He added: “In 12 hours a driver will only make an average of £25, £30. What about those people with a mortgage or kids? Now Watford Council is making it even worse.”

What a load of b0ll0cks,now they want us to believe they are on less than the minimum wage.If thats the case why are they so protective of such a sh1tty paid job?.

Fight fire with fire.....bring in the tax inspectors.

For once,Dotties got to stand firm here and not back down otherwise it will only be the start of demands.At the moment some of the drivers think they are in the Watford mafia.

What everyone should do boycott using Taxis in Watford on a Saturday and promote mini cabs.They will soon start bleating when they lose their "£30 for 12 hours" evrey week.[edited by admin] itr people should boycott them period,if you can walk,go for it.You stay fitter,save dosh and save half of West Watford from abject poverty.They can always get a better paid job at say costco.

The bottom line is the Watford cabbies are protecting their £1000 a week sit on your arris,non skilled jobs.I can see why but that does not make it right.


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Taximan, Watford says...
11:18am Sun 29 Mar 09

£30.00 for twelve hours work, who's kidding who.

Greed sheer greed is whats behind all of this. We had the same trouble a few years ago when Silverlink kicked them off watford junction,all because they would'nt pay 90 pence aday for using the junction forecourt. As a private hire driver on a three rivers plate I have to pay £115.00 a week for my radio and they pay next to nothing for there's. Lets get rid of the asian mafia now and bring back the good old british cabbie,those who can speak and understand the queens english,those who know how to treat people properly, and charge a proper fare and not the rip off fares that the hackney carridge bunch charge. The sooner we get rid of the asian mob the better off watford taxi public will become.

crapman, watford says...
12:22pm Sun 29 Mar 09
well said taximan,like you,i am also a private hire driver with three rivers plates,and also paying over £100 per week radio rent...as we all know,these highway robbers brought all this on them selves.they wanted wbc to completly ban three rivers plates from picking up fares in the borough,but it is not at all possible to stop people from phoning up and pre booking there favourite private hire company,no matter what district they live in,and what plates the private hire car carrys..basically, the bandits are losing out,because they are ripping off the public,they are arrogant,rude,scruffy and the inside of there cars stink of pi55...so tough luck to all you hackneys,and all the best to the private hire boys

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watford scholar, watford says...
12:47pm Sun 29 Mar 09
I have to sress my disgust at the ignorance and racist remarks towards the Watford taxi drivers. Asians may not speak the Queens english but they certainly do not go on a raping spree like your WHITE London driver did (John Warboys). The hackney drivers do not rip off the public. The fares are set by the WBC. Taximan you are a fat, ugly and a chav.

watford scholar, watford says...
12:50pm Sun 29 Mar 09
London drivers rip off the tourist, lol

watford scholar, watford says...
1:00pm Sun 29 Mar 09
HAIL BLACK AND WHITE TAXI DRIVERS.

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

If that's all he's making, he'd be better off working for Macdonalds.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

He's doing the job as a stop gap......now if the qualifications to be cab drivers were increased....would he?

CC

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