Founder of Alexandria taxi firm reveals his sadness after the workers' co-operative closed down West Dunbartonshire Taxi Drivers Co-operative has closed its doors but a new taxi co-op with the same phone number has been launched.
A founder of a Vale taxi firm which was at the centre of a bitter feud between warring cabbies has spoken of his sadness after the workers’ co-op closed down.
Stevie Forrest, who helped set up West Dunbartonshire Taxi Drivers Co-operative, claimed the organisation had gone downhill since its “clique” committee “decided to rip up the rule book”.
The firm, which was hailed as the first taxi workers’ co-operative in Scotland when it was established four years ago, has been dissolved.
The taxi firm’s booking office in Main Street has also shut but a new firm, Alexandria and Dumbarton Co-op Taxis Limited, registered to an address in Balloch, has since been formed and uses the same phone number.
Stevie, who joined rival Wright’s Taxis after saying he was bullied and forced out, told the Lennox Herald: “Kind of sad to see the Co-op taxis office close, but not unexpected.
“Their complete incompetence at running a taxi office is now undeniably exposed. I warned them and the membership at the company’s one and only AGM in November 2012 that we needed to address the problem of falling membership numbers.
“I wrote to the company secretary expressing my concerns about how the company was being run. Their solution to this was to try to bully me by banning me from the office system.
“They followed this up by sending me letters saying I was ‘expelled’ from the co-operative. Apparently ignorant of the fact membership of a workers‘ co-operative is covered by employment law and you can’t just take away a member’s livelihood because you disagree with their views.
“I left Co-op Taxis by choice and warned the remaining members that the company would now collapse. You simply cannot run a workers’ co-operative in this manner. The membership then fell to only six cars within a year and now the office is closed.”
He added: “I’m genuinely sorry it failed. I tried my best to make it work but I was up against people who had their own agenda and had no regard for rules and regulations.”
The Lennox Herald revealed in March last year how a row erupted after Stevie diverted the Co-op’s customer calls to Wright’s Taxis.
He said he had the right to make the arrangement with BT as the account was in his name but a spokesman for the firm responded by claiming the move was part of a “smear campaign” against members.
According to Company Check, the former co-op had liabilities of almost £20,000 in 2013, when its accounts were last filed – a £15,000 increase on the previous year.
A West Dunbartonshire Council spokeswoman said: “We have been advised verbally that the office has closed and we have requested that the licence be surrendered. A new company, Alexandria and Dumbarton Co-op Taxis Limited, has been formed using the same telephone number as the previous company.
“Under current legislation they do not require to hold a taxi booking office licence to operate as they do not operate from a premises.”
The firm did not respond to the Lennox Herald’s request for a comment.
A Vale councillor who is credited with helping to launch West Dunbartonshire Taxi Drivers’ Co-operative hopes the new firm can “survive and thrive”.
Councillor Jim Bollan said he was saddened to see the Main Street booking office close. He said: “The workers’ co-op was the first established in Scotland and all the founder members put a huge amount of time and energy into getting it established.
“Let’s hope the new workers’ co-op can survive and thrive and continue to deliver a taxi service to local people. I am hopeful that the new registered company, Alexandria and Dumbarton Co-op Taxis Ltd, using new technology, will continue to provide a service, albeit reduced in numbers.
“When a customer now phones the number for a taxi it is re-routed to a system in England. The system in England then contacts the co-op taxi drivers, on a rota system, advising them of the details of the hire.
“I have some concerns about the new technology being used, not least the effect it will have on jobs and the safety of some service users, particularly women.
“There is currently legislation going through the Scottish Parliament that will introduce rigid controls on the use of these new systems, which has got to be welcomed.”
source:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local ... ls-5759406
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