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RMT forces Network Rail to scrap taxi access charges
RMT forces Network Rail to scrap taxi access charges at Birmingham New Street station
Taxi union RMT’s campaign against the hike in access charges for drivers serving the public at Birmingham New Street station has scored an important, precedent-setting victory with Network Rail withdrawing plans which would have lumped RMT taxi members with charges as high as £1,000 a year.
Faced with a precipitous reduction in government funding, Network Rail has been forced to sweat its assets. Network Rail has been trying to squeeze existing site users – including jacking up rents paid by retail space tenants, charging for passengers to use basic facilities such as toilets and car parking and targeting taxi drivers’ income by trying to force them to buy a permit to simply pick up passengers from stations.
Drivers on limited incomes were unable to afford Network Rail’s new fees. Network Rail responded by blocking access to Birmingham New Street station, leading to passengers being inconvenienced by having to walk further to pick up taxis. Whatever the weather or the passenger’s circumstances , with luggage, whether disabled or with young children, Network Rail refused to relent.
In fact, Network Rail doubled down by seeking to illegally fill the taxi spaces with minicabs. These are vehicles that, for safety reasons, need to be pre-booked and which passengers cannot pick up from ranks direct. Given the well-publicised concerns about unregulated rogue minicab drivers, this was a shocking error by Network Rail bosses.
Acknowledging that the fees that it was trying to charge hard pressed taxi drivers were excessive, Network Rail has been forced to scrap its plans. The union has ensured that no additional fees will be payable by drivers at least until the second half of 2017 and that any additional fees will be by consent following a full consultation.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the union and Network Rail with the assistance of Birmingham City Council. This is intended to clarify how Network Rail should conduct itself towards taxi drivers in future.
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary said:
“Network Rail treated taxi drivers with contempt by attempting to simply notify drivers of dramatically new and obviously unreasonable terms. Further, it failed to meaningfully consult with the union - its dictatorial conduct being so unreasonable that it drew criticism from Birmingham City councillors and MPs.
“We pay testament to the solidarity that drivers showed, standing together to face down Network Rail. Having successfully defended our members in Birmingham, we will be replicating our action in other cities including Leicester, where drivers are also being hounded – in their case by an out of control Mayor.”
RMT forces Network Rail to scrap taxi access charges at Birmingham New Street station
Taxi union RMT’s campaign against the hike in access charges for drivers serving the public at Birmingham New Street station has scored an important, precedent-setting victory with Network Rail withdrawing plans which would have lumped RMT taxi members with charges as high as £1,000 a year.
Faced with a precipitous reduction in government funding, Network Rail has been forced to sweat its assets. Network Rail has been trying to squeeze existing site users – including jacking up rents paid by retail space tenants, charging for passengers to use basic facilities such as toilets and car parking and targeting taxi drivers’ income by trying to force them to buy a permit to simply pick up passengers from stations.
Drivers on limited incomes were unable to afford Network Rail’s new fees. Network Rail responded by blocking access to Birmingham New Street station, leading to passengers being inconvenienced by having to walk further to pick up taxis. Whatever the weather or the passenger’s circumstances , with luggage, whether disabled or with young children, Network Rail refused to relent.
In fact, Network Rail doubled down by seeking to illegally fill the taxi spaces with minicabs. These are vehicles that, for safety reasons, need to be pre-booked and which passengers cannot pick up from ranks direct. Given the well-publicised concerns about unregulated rogue minicab drivers, this was a shocking error by Network Rail bosses.
Acknowledging that the fees that it was trying to charge hard pressed taxi drivers were excessive, Network Rail has been forced to scrap its plans. The union has ensured that no additional fees will be payable by drivers at least until the second half of 2017 and that any additional fees will be by consent following a full consultation.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the union and Network Rail with the assistance of Birmingham City Council. This is intended to clarify how Network Rail should conduct itself towards taxi drivers in future.
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary said:
“Network Rail treated taxi drivers with contempt by attempting to simply notify drivers of dramatically new and obviously unreasonable terms. Further, it failed to meaningfully consult with the union - its dictatorial conduct being so unreasonable that it drew criticism from Birmingham City councillors and MPs.
“We pay testament to the solidarity that drivers showed, standing together to face down Network Rail. Having successfully defended our members in Birmingham, we will be replicating our action in other cities including Leicester, where drivers are also being hounded – in their case by an out of control Mayor.”
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