Luton private hire drivers to strike over ‘broken promises’ by Luton council
Luton's private hire drivers said they want the council to keep their promises
UNHAPPY private hire drivers who are accusing the council of breaking its promises will gather for strike action outside the Town Hall in less than a fortnight.
Mushtaq Ahmed, chairman of the Luton Borough Drivers' Union, said there will be an all day strike on Wednesday, April 15, because of working conditions he said are damaging their trade.
The union has been in discussion with Luton Borough Council over a number of issues, including access to bus lanes, permission to have manufactured tinted windows and five minutes 'grace' when stopping in the town centre.
The council said its 'primary concern is public safety', but added that it would 'continue to engage with the union and other drivers and operators'.
Mr Ahmed said: "The issues are the same. They made promises that they are going to sort the issues out and they haven't.
"They said they would give us access to bus lanes.
"Also, the vehicles we use have tinted windows.
"They will not allow us to have them but they come as standard with the car and getting them changed costs nearly £1,000."
A council spokeswoman said the drivers had a 'responsibility to run a safe business' and that it was the 'council's responsibility to regulate it'.
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