And of course in fairness (Unlike the RMT forum) I'll print the reply from the Rickshaw, Minicab, and Tout brigade.
Reference the recent allegations made in Taxi Newspaper (published by the LTDA). These allegations are in the hands of our legal advisers and we, the Branch, will take their advice as to whether to take legal action on this matter. (Note from GBC:
)
However, in the meantime, as Branch Chairman I would like to spell out our actual position on the issues raised.
Following the two recent demonstrations at Penton Street regarding the situation whereby a man with a serious medical condition was accepted onto the Knowledge, it was decided that this incident appeared to be part of a pattern of decisions made over the last few years that reflected badly on the integrity and world- wide reputation of London’s taxi drivers.
With this in mind it was decided to try and find out what the hell was going on at the PCO and the only way this could be done in a manner that would reveal all the workings of the PCO would be a PUBLIC ENQUIRY.
A press statement to this effect was issued. Following this statement I was contacted by Terrance Flanagan, a National Organiser of the General, Municipal and Boilermaker’s Union (GMB) about this. The GMB position was they too are very concerned about this issue and fully support OUR call for a Public Enquiry. They have a series of issues they want raising and listed some of them.
The RMT position was that we have our issues pertaining to the Hackney Trade, and they have theirs regarding the Private Hire Trade, but by us both supporting a call for a public enquiry and utilising our respective political contacts, we would have a much greater chance of success in the matter. If both sides of the trade-divide in London are calling for this enquiry then most people would realise that there must indeed be something going wrong in the PCO.
Make no mistake, this call is a MASSIVE CALL and we will need every political end available to us to get this accepted.
The last thing Terry Flanagan said to me was “I know we will have a fight to the death with you over the Bus Lanes issue but that is a different issue for another day. Lets get the PCO sorted out first.” (
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Ref “The RMT sells out to Pedicabs”
It is true (
) that the RMT Taxis London Branch do seek to sabotage the bill currently going through Parliament. We are opposing clause 19 which seeks to introduce a “Voluntary Registration” I will say that again A Voluntary Registration Scheme. Two of the nine pedicab operators in London have indicated they may be prepared to take part. Not sure that the riders of these things will be very keen to line themselves up for Road Traffic Act violation tickets. It would be a case of the turkeys voting for Christmas. All the riders will just change to the companies that are not part of the voluntary scheme, leaving the scheme yet another piece of useless legislation.
At the end of the last century the Hackney trade was talked into allowing a Bill to pass through Parliament that would licence mincabs and so bring them under control, and by raising vehicle and driver standards reduce their numbers. Well, we have seen the result of that and we are not falling for that 3 card trick again.
Any scheme which gives any sort of credibility to the Pedicabs (at least on paper) will make it much harder to clear these death traps off the streets.
Once clause 19 is defeated, and have NO DOUBT it will be, the RMT will seek cooperation of our members in the Underground, and on the buses, the Fire Brigade Union, Unison (ambulance drivers) and other interested parties to clear these vehicles off the highways and into the parks where they can operate safely and without being a major root cause of traffic pollution. (Yawn.
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Let me just add here that the RMT has not had any talks or any other form of communication with any member/s of the Rickshaw/pedicab community. If they do happen to also wish to defeat clause 19 then that is coincidental. (Really?
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