Furious Scunthorpe taxi drivers threaten industrial action over new ‘must take fares’ ruleSCUNTHORPE cabbies are threatening industrial action over a new points system that punishes them for not accepting fares.
As previously reported in the Telegraph, taxi drivers must accept all fares, or they could receive eight to 12 points on their taxi licence – with 12 meaning they could lose their permission to operate.
The rules, which are part of North Lincolnshire Council's licensing taxi policy, have been adopted by council leader Liz Redfern, and came into force at the beginning of the month.
National legislation states it is a criminal offence to refuse to carry a passenger unless they have an infectious disease, have an animal with them (except if it is a service or assistance animal) or if someone is deceased.
John Fleming, owner of Triple A Taxis and chairman of the Scunthorpe branch of the National Taxi Association, which has 127 members, said his association does not accept the points system and will appeal any decision that adds points to drivers' licences.
He said: "We oppose the points system and will not support it in any shape or form.
"If any of my members are given points I will appeal against them.
"I don't think the council had a mandate to enforce it. They put it through at a special meeting. It should have gone before the full council for consultation.
"We have not ruled out industrial action over this. We're holding a meeting next week and if our members vote for it, action may well be on the table.
"The council have not been transparent about this. They've got it in through the back door."
At a meeting of the taxi forum on Tuesday, Mr Fleming said he wanted a queue system enforced whereby customers have to take the first cab in the queue.
"At other ranks in the country, that is the system in place," he said.
"Nobody should refuse a taxi, if you have a queue system, it's first come, first served.
"The points system is about refusing fares and a queue system would help with that.
"It stops people refusing drivers because of the colour of their skin and going up and down to get a cheaper price."
However, council licensing manager Nick Bramhill said it was not up to the local authority to enforce rules on queuing and this would be something the taxi drivers would have to agree between themselves.
He said: "We don't want to take that choice away from the public.
"If I don't like the look of a cab because it's dirty, I have the choice to pick a different one."
Councillor Keith Vickers, who chairs the taxi forum, said: "The leader can make the decision as part of the cabinet style of local government.
"Before the points system, drivers would either have their licence taken away or would be told not to do it again.
"I don't see the issue with the points system. We will see how it goes."
Read more:
http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Ta ... z3LyGtmGqi
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