Taxi Driver Online

PRESS RELEASE
This was passed onto me by my new best friend

Tuesday 1st December 2009

Immediate Release

Attention: News desk, Transport, Industrial and Political Correspondents

GMB CONFIRMS NEW YEAR STOPPAGE OF CHELMSFORD CABS

If no one can make a living at cabing then they will stop doing it and the cab service will disappear says GMB

Cab Drivers will this week meet to discuss escalating their industrial action against Chelmsford Council. On the Agenda will be a 24hour stoppage over the New Year

Terry Flanagan, GMB Professional Drivers Branch Secretary said, "The situation in which Chelmsford’s cabbies find themselves is absurd. GMB members believe that Chelmsford Council is getting bad legal advice and that they could easily stop issuing new cab licenses for the time it takes to do a cost free ‘an unmet demand survey’. GMB members working as Chelmsford cab drivers will pay for the survey as they are convinced that it will show what they know to be true that there are far too many cabs on Chelmsford’s roads.

GMB members are glad to have the support of the Liberal Democrats on the Council. They have seen and recognised the cabbies plight and backed a ban on plate issues and support having an unmet demand survey.

This would appear to suggest that the Conservative view is out of touch. Unfortunately it will be Chelmsford’s travelling Public who will suffer by being inconvenienced through the New Year industrial action and by the inevitable destruction of Chelmsford cab industry that the council’s current irrational stance will cause.

GMB is hopeful that Chelmsford Council will listen to reason and their fellow councillors and therefore allowing the electorate to enjoy the New Year with a full cab service. Allowing the cabbies to rest assured that their public service is respected and will be allowed to become financially viable. If no one can make a living at cabing then they will stop doing it and the cab service will disappear.”

Ends

Contact: Terry Michel local GMB Professional Driver members on 07782 190 844 or Terry Flanagan, GMB Professional Driver Branch Secretary on 07958 275339 or GMB Press Office: Rose Conroy 07974 252183.

Notes to Editors:

GMB has thousands members who work as professional drivers in all parts of the transport industry; private hire, chauffeurs, couriers (bikes and vans) and taxi drivers all over the UK are members of GMB.

GMB won the right for professional drivers to be exempt from the London Congestion Charge, The right to drop off and pick up on Red Route and is heading a campaign for safety shield and CCTV in cabs, paid for by the proprietors to stop the many attacks and robberies on drivers.

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

What a chance for both sides of the trade to stand together for a change. Nobody can be forced to work and nobody really has to work NY eve so anyone who does step in to make a quick buck is just an out and out scab. No good using it as a threat unless the matter is resolved before christmas and don't be fooled by promisses of talks half way through January. Good luck I say.

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Wishing I was in Greenhall Whitley Land.

I suspect hard pressed drivers in the middle of a recession will, to use your word, 'scab' in their hundreds.

The busiest night of the year, with takings a plenty, no chance!

And if they did, the PH's will clear up.

That makes no sense.

If some cab drivers stop driving, other cabs will make more of a living.

There's always a queue waiting to fill empty positions.

Yeah right.
Blind leading the blind.
Do they think the councillors are mugs?

You mean you won't be following the GMB advice?

Good man, sensible decision.