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Taxi strike hits St Albans city centre
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14735		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Taxi strike hits St Albans city centre
“UNFAIR” parking tickets have prompted a taxi strike in St Albans city centre

According to St Albans taxi driver Amjad Khan, the strike, which started just after 3pm today and is set to continue over the weekend, is a direct result of St Albans district council traffic wardens imposing fines on carriages parked in the St Peter’s Street and city station taxi ranks.

Amjad, who said that there will be no St Albans taxis running until at least Monday, said: “We’ve come to blows with the council over this so many times. Licensed cabs are being ticketed for parking in legitimate taxi ranks for no apparent reason, and they need to stop discriminating against us.”

Amjad, who also claims that the St Albans taxi ranks are not big enough to accommodate the number of carriages in the city, added: “We’re all mucking in and will continue to stand up together in an effort to make the council understand.”

The strike is said to affect both Hackney carriages and some private taxi firms, although the number of drivers ignoring the strike is currently unknown.


http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/taxi_stri ... e_1_595914
Author:  Stationtone [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
I wish them the best of luck :)
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
I suppose fines are better than immediate suspension. :shock:

CC
Author:  GBC [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 12:00 am ]
Post subject: 
A strike, during the August Holiday period? :lol:

One, will anyone notice?

Two, other drivers will just take their places.

Three, the PH cars will just park up and take their pick.

Is this another 'Stalin' organised event by any chance? :roll:
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 12:01 am ]
Post subject: 
GBC wrote:

Is this another 'Stalin' organised event by any chance? :roll:


I think theres evens odds on that bet. :D

CC
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:16 am ]
Post subject: 
captain cab wrote:
I suppose fines are better than immediate suspension. :shock:

Maybe the council knows the drivers there have the right back up. :wink:
Author:  Blueknight [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:27 am ]
Post subject:  Member of the public response to the newspaper article...
what a joke! you are not being discriminated against, you need to stop thinking that you can park wherever you like. the only reason you are getting tickets matey is because you are double parking and straddling the pavement. also i like the fact there is no mention of the taxi driver being abusive to one of the wardens and when he was told to calm down by a passing bus driver he was also faced with a barrage of abuse!
Author:  Stationtone [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:35 am ]
Post subject: 
WELL DONE TO THEM :D

There were chaotic scenes in St Albans as taxi drivers went on strike over what they view as over-zealous parking enforcement.

Frustrations were heightened on Thursday afternoon when fifteen tickets were issued to taxis parked on the rank in St Peter's Street.

The drivers subsequently stopped work and began a 'go-slow' protest through the city centre.

The drivers told BBC Three Counties Radio why they took the action:

"There are a lot of taxis operating in St Albans and not enough parking spaces to accommodate all the drivers.

"The Council wants the drivers to drive around until there's a free space on the rank, but that's just not feasible, we can't work that way," explained one of the drivers.




After a meeting between taxi driver representative Mohammed Khan and the Chief Executive of St Albans District Council, the parking tickets were rescinded.

Steve Deakin, Parking Contract Manager at St Albans City and District Council, said in statement:

"It is difficult to manage the taxi rank in St Peter's Street, St Albans, safely with the number of taxis that need to use it. Owing to a misunderstanding, the civil enforcement officers have issued tickets to taxis using the rank.

"We have agreed to work with the taxi drivers on how to make the taxi rank work better and to agree alternative places for them to wait within the city centre area. In the meantime, we are continuing with arrangements that were in place up until now.

"We have agreed not to enforce the tickets that were issued today and the taxi drivers have agreed that they will help the civil enforcement officers ensure that the taxi rank operates safely. We are very pleased that the taxi drivers are working as usual and look forward to our discussions in the future."
Author:  GBC [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
stationtone wrote:


"There are a lot of taxis operating in St Albans and not enough parking spaces . . . etc


And that's why 'strikes' in our industry never work.

All that happens is that other taxis clear up and have a tidy sum in their bank accounts at the end of the day.
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
stationtone wrote:
Owing to a misunderstanding, the civil enforcement officers have issued tickets to taxis using the rank.

Misunderstanding? :?
Author:  edders23 [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
What is it with " strikes" all they do is cut down wages whats wrong with driving a convoy of taxis up and down the M1 at 30MPH or around the streets surrounding the council offices during a council meeting more cost effective and a far bigger impact surely !
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
edders23 wrote:
What is it with " strikes" all they do is cut down wages whats wrong with driving a convoy of taxis up and down the M1 at 30MPH or around the streets surrounding the council offices during a council meeting more cost effective and a far bigger impact surely !

In most cases I agree, but in this case it appears to have succeeded.
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