Taxi Driver Online

Well this looks like a major climbdown from Birmingham City Council, so have also started a new thread for this.

Taxi 'go slow protests' over Clean Air Zone in Birmingham is delayed

https://www.birminghampost.co.uk/taxi-d ... r-15890280

A series of 'go slow' protests had been scheduled for the next two weeks

Potential industrial action by taxi drivers opposed to the council's approach to the introduction of a clean air zone in the city centre has been delayed pending further discussions, it has been confirmed.

Last week the council's licensing committee published an update to their plans for a Clean Air Zone in the city centre, with particular emphasis on the arrangements around Hackney Carriage Vehicles (HCV).

According to city council figures, only 72 of the 1,265 Hackney Carriages licensed to operate in the city will be compliant with the new emission standards being imposed by the pollution charge from January 2020.

Following meetings last week the Rail and Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), which represents HCV drivers, announced a series of 'go slow' protests across the city centre, in protest at the costs being imposed on drivers to convert their vehicles to meet emissions standards.

However, following discussions on Friday (February 22), RMT representative Raja Amin said that the protests had been postponed after the council made some concessions on their proposals.

What concessions were made?

The update featured 12 points which represented a change from the council's original policy in relation to taxis.

These included :

- Removing the emission standard of Euro 4 and Euro 6 and replacing it with a 'strict vehicle ageing policy'.

- Increasing the age limit on HCV's from 14 to 15 years.

- Allowing any HCV that is less than 15 years old and any Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) that is less than 12 years old to work until such time as it reaches its age limit.

- Any vehicle that does not reach the standards would be able to keep working until they reach their age limit, but would have to pay the daily Clean Air Zone charge.

- Any HCV that is suitable for an LPG conversion can be converted regardless of its age, provided that its physical condition is structurally sound and it will last until December 2025.

- A HCV will be able to carrying on working after 1st January 2020 if it has entered into a binding contract for an LPG conversion.

"Well as you saw, after the first 12 points were sent out last Wednesday we announced a dispute with Birmingham City Council and gave them some dates from Monday to Friday for two weeks where we’d drive slow in the area," he said.

"And we got prepared to start a dispute action from Monday. But Mr Chris Neville, the director of licensing, phoned me up on Friday afternoon and asked if we could sit around a table to resolve this, which we were quite happy to do as we made clear in our letter of dispute.

"So we sat down and five points were discussed, as well as one or two others, which he had to go and get ratified by his organisation before we could open. So that’s why the dispute has been postponed until further notice, because there’s a dialogue taking place.

"There’s no major difference between our belief and their understanding. They’ve been very open and honest with us, and we’re an organisation that are nationally recognised.

"On those lines he’s quite happy to talk to us - he said give me until Monday or Tuesday, so I’m going to wait until this evening, or at the latest Wednesday morning, to reconvene our meeting, and I don’t think there is a major sticking point.

"But then again there could be if he doesn’t come round to our way of thinking. The door’s open for both of us and we’re talking to each other."

What were the new points that were agreed?

The five new points agreed last Friday were:

- Agreement that if Birmingham is successful in its bid to government to be able to purchase a fleet of TX hackney carriages that priority will be given to older drivers who wish to hire them, given that they are less likely to be able to invest in the price of a new vehicle because of the limited period of time they would have to recover the cost of their investment.

- Agreement that drivers who have entered into a binding contract and paid a deposit towards an approved CVRAS LPG conversion will be exempt from the daily CAZ charge until such time that the conversion is completed (subject to a cut-off date to be agreed).

- Agreement to speak to the company that is authorised by CVRAS to install LPG retrofit conversions to discuss whether it can agree to accepting a 5 per cent deposit instead of 10 per cent to secure a conversion.

- Agreement to discuss with colleagues and relevant elected members in the council the request for drivers to be able to license for the first time Euro 6 diesels up until 2026, as opposed to the proposed date of January 1st 2021 (though it is noted that this is 'highly unlikely'.

- Agreement to discuss with colleagues and relevant elected members requests to allow all taxis to continue to be licensed after 1st January 2020 until the expiry of their licence, regardless of the age of the vehicle, and to be exempt from the daily CAZ charge during that period.

Image: ITV News/@jasonmagictorch

Well this is all very confusing. Big protest in Birmingham yesterday over the CAZ. At least 'big' in that it brought the city centre to a standstill, not so big in that it seemed to only involve around 20 HCs. Seems they deliberately blocked some key routes, causing total gridlock - obviously they'll know how to cause maximum traffic disruption with minimum resources.

An article this morning has the headline and sub-title:

Black cab taxi drivers plan to bring Birmingham city centre to standstill again TODAY

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... n-15941223

Two weeks of protests planned by cabbies who claim they could be driven out of business by new regulations


However, the paper repeats the original timetable of a fortnight's protests, which were due to end today, and which of course were postponed after the council offered major concessions in terms of the CAZ spec, as per the first article in this thread.

So the 'two weeks of protests' headline is at odds with the other evidence in the article and elsewhere.

The other odd thing is that the article implies that the protests are RMT-organised, but simply quotes remarks previously made by a spokesman, and doesn't specifically say that the RMT organised things yesterday.

However, one of a couple of Birmingham Mail online pieces yesterday said:



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... y-15940264

A later Mail piece had a shedload of stuff about the traffic chaos itself and the public reaction, and also includes the following quotes:





https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... e-15940317

So nowhere does it seem to actually state that the RMT organised the protest, and there are no current quotes from the union, but it does look like some kind of maverick RMT group are responsible. I say 'maverick', because there seems to be little in the way of widespread support from the trade, at least as far as the evidence in the articles suggest.

Removing the emission standard of Euro 4 and Euro 6 and replacing it with a 'strict vehicle ageing policy'.

- Increasing the age limit on HCV's from 14 to 15 years.

this sounds highly unlikely to be a change of council policy sounds more like driver/union demands

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Well seems that after all the hoohah and warnings about another protest today that it won't actually be happening. The Birmingham Mail seems to have actually gotten some kind of statement from the RMT now. This is it below, together with other 'key events' listed on its website (working backwards), but which is mainly past statements and stuff in the press.

Live: Taxi driver go slow in Friday rush hour 'not happening'

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... w-15944229

Bus services and commuters in cars have been hit by gridlock in protests over clean air zone


16.14 Protest for today not taking place

We understand from the RMT that the protest which was scheduled to take place today is not happening. Both the city council and National Express West Midlands have been warning travellers about potential disruption.

But we have just spoken to Raja Amin co-ordinator for RMT Midlands Region said who said:

"There isn’t a go-slow protest today. The next one is scheduled for March 13 from 8am to 1pm. It’s going to be around the city centre and surrounding streets. We like to apologise to the public for any inconvenience caused because they are asking us to spend £60,000 to £70,000 on new electric cars. They are not giving us any serious incentive or a time frame."


15.32 Council statement

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “We recognise that the introduction of a Clean Air Zone will have an impact on everyone driving the most polluting vehicles.

“We have applied to the Government for funding for a range of measures to support Hackney carriage and private hire drivers in making the switch to compliant vehicles or upgrading their existing vehicles.

“We have also consulted with the general public and the taxi and private hire trade to prepare licensing policies in readiness for the Clean Air Zone and, as a result of feedback received from almost 1,400 individuals and organisations, have made a number of changes to our proposals.

“These include replacing the emission standard due to take effect from 1 January 2020 with a vehicle age policy, as well as changes to the conditions under which a Hackney carriage could have an LPG conversion.

“A report on these updated proposals is due to be considered by the council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee on 13 March. In the meantime, we remain open to discussions with representatives from the taxi trade about any concerns they might have.”


15.26 Why the taxi drivers are protesting

The taxi drivers are protesting over proposals from Birmingham City Council to make them comply with the new clean air zone.

According to city council figures, only 72 of the 1,265 Hackney Carriages licensed to operate in the city will be compliant with the new emission standards being imposed by the pollution charge from January 2020.

The Rail and Maritime and Transport Union, which represents Hackney drivers, claimed the council is ignoring concerns abouts cost implications for drivers.

They have labelled clean air restrictions “draconian” which they say would see “75 per cent of their fleet taken out of service”.


15.20 National Express West Midlands in warning

Birmingham’s main bus operator is already warning people to be aware of potential problems today.

In a tweet the company said: “Due to Taxi Go Slow protests happening again this evening, please be aware that some routes going into and out of Birmingham City Centre May experience delays between 16:30 and 18:30 this evening. Let us know if you need any further advice. Sorry again!”


15.10 Bus services to be hit

All bus services out of the city were affected on Thursday, National Express said.

Bus commuters faced hour-long waits to get out of the city, with many giving up after 40 minutes and opting to take the train instead.

The taxi drivers initially scheduled ten protests over a two week period - with the last one taking place today.

They are protesting over proposals from Birmingham City Council to make them comply with the new clean air zone.


15.09 Taxi drivers aiming to cause disruption on Friday

Black cab drivers will be bringing Birmingham city centre to a standstill again during Friday’s rush hour - after causing Thursday night traffic chaos.

Cabbies are set to stage another “go-slow” protest during this evening rush hour.

Motorists heading in and out of the city can expect delays on the roads again from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

A dramatic image shows last night’s traffic chaos as several black cabs went on a go slow at Holloway Circus exit.

Commuters were left fuming as taxi drivers reportedly ‘blocked’ Smallbrook Queensway in protest over the new clean air zone.

Twenty cabbies reportedly parked up their taxis in Smallbrook Queensway tunnel, police said, creating severe congestion across the city centre.

So much for the workers united.

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IDFIMH

City centre black cab "go slow" protest OFF for Wednesday as council agrees talks

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... o-15960244

Birmingham City Council has agreed to withdraw the emissions policy proposal

A black cab protest which would bring the city centre to a standstill has been called OFF.

Taxi union RMT has postponed the planned protest for Wednesday's rush hours claiming the council has withdrawn emission proposals and agreed to talks.

The taxi driver protests last week saw the heart of Birmingham gridlocked, with commuters facing long delays out of Birmingham.

Twenty black cabs parked in the Smallbrook Queensway tunnel on Thursday (March 7) over fears their trade will be 'decimated' by the new Clean Air Zone.

Dramatic images captured as several black cabs blocked off exits at Holloway Circus, causing severe congestion.

A second go-slow protest was planned for Friday's rush hour but it was cancelled at the last minute.

The next postponed event was scheduled for Wednesday (March 13) from 8am - 1pm.

But RMT now says it has called off the protest after Birmingham City Council agreed to withdraw their emission policy proposals.

They are reportedly now in talks to hold detailed negotiations around RMT's proposals.

General Secretary for RMT Mick Cash said: “RMT welcomes the fact that Birmingham City Council have listened to our members working in the taxi trade and have withdrawn the emissions policy proposals to allow for talks to take place with our officials.

“The national union will continue to monitor the position as our local representatives in the City enter into detailed negotiations with the Council.”

BirminghamLive has contacted Birmingham City Council for comment.

Missed this from the other day. Obviously TOA in a bit of a huff that the RMT secured talks following their protests

There's a video of the council meeting on the website, but to be honest I've seen angrier 'angry scenes', and couldn't really work out much of what was said anyway


Watch angry scenes as black cab drivers confront councillors over Clean Air Zone

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... b-15968830

The council was awarded £15m from the government to support taxi and private hire drivers


Manawar Hussain, of the T.O.A. warning that some cab drivers plan to protest over the Clean Air Zone. (Image: LDRS/Birmingham Mail)

A council meeting was brought to a halt amid angry scenes when black cab drivers vented frustration over the Clean Air Zone plans.

The T.O.A. which represents around 400 drivers in the city, claimed they had been left out of talks between Birmingham City Council licensing chiefs and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.

A heated exchanged broke out at this morning's Licensing and Public Protection committee between Manawar Hussain, of the T.O.A. and chairman Cllr Barbara Dring.

Mr Hussain said: "We will put you on notice that T.O.A. will be taking protests because this has gone far too long," adding: "We have tried to negotiate with you, we have tried to support you, we have tried to work with you but you are not working with us."

A brief adjournment of the meeting was called until the commotion settled and cab drivers had filtered out of the room.

The row centres around a new age and emissions policy for Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers in Birmingham being brought in because of the Clean Air Zone.

The charge will impose £8 daily penalties for high-polluting cars travelling inside the A4540 ring road from January 2020 - diesels older than a EURO 6 (manufactured before 2015) and petrol cars older than EURO 4 (made before 2006).

The RMT, which is behind recent go-slow protests bringing city streets to a standstill, has agreed to hold off on any further demonstrations after the council vowed to consider their alternative policy proposals.

The T.O.A. is due to inform the authority of arrangements for their protests in due course.

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 12) it was confirmed that the Government has approved the council's full business case for the Clean Air Zone awarding them £38m for mitigation measures, out of £50m which was requested.

Crucially, the sum includes £15m sought to support the taxi and private hire trade which was granted in full.

As one measure the council wants to purchase 50 ultra low emission black cabs to provide a lease scheme.

Another proposed mitigation is to provide £5,000 support packages to 1,000 drivers to help offset the costs of running an ultra low emission Hackney Carriage.

Chris Neville, the council's acting director of regulation and enforcement, confirmed the proposed emission and age policy had been withdrawn from today's meeting for further discussions to take place with the RMT and other trade representatives.

He said: "In considering the request from the RMT and other trade representatives we will need to balance their wishes against the risk that the funding from government may be reduced if we dilute our proposals, and we must almost also consider the legal duty placed on the city by the ministerial directive (to reduce nitrogen oxides in the air to legal levels).

"Having said that we obviously are now going to speak in the next few days with the trade reps and I would like to be able to bring a report to the next committee with the proposals having been revisited."

Raja Amin, Midland Region President at the RMT, was present at this morning's meeting and moved to distance the union away from the heated scenes.

He said: "Our door is open to talk now, it seems a sensible way forward.

"We entered into dispute when we had exhausted all other options. We tried to have a dialogue with the council but they didn't listen.

"I think they were testing the water and we had no choice but to demonstrate, we don't enjoy blocking the city's roads."

BRIAN: Are you the Judean People's Front?

REG: [edited by admin] off!

BRIAN: What?

REG: Judean People's Front. We're the People's Front of Judea! Judean People's Front. Cawk.

FRANCIS: [edited by admin].

BRIAN: Can I... join your group?

REG: No. [edited by admin] off.

BRIAN: I didn't want to sell this stuff. It's only a job. I hate the Romans as much as anybody.

PEOPLE'S FRONT OF JUDEA: Shhhh. Shhhh. Shhh. Shh. Shhhh.

REG: Stumm.

JUDITH: Are you sure?

BRIAN: Oh, dead sure. I hate the Romans already.

REG: Listen. If you wanted to join the P.F.J., you'd have to really hate the Romans.

BRIAN: I do!

REG: Oh, yeah? How much?

BRIAN: A lot!

REG: Right. You're in. Listen. The only people we hate more than the Romans are the [edited by admin] Judean People's Front.

P.F.J.: Yeah...

JUDITH: Splitters.

P.F.J.: Splitters...

FRANCIS: And the Judean Popular People's Front.

P.F.J.: Yeah. Oh, yeah. Splitters. Splitters...

LORETTA: And the People's Front of Judea.

P.F.J.: Yeah. Splitters. Splitters...

REG: What?

LORETTA: The People's Front of Judea. Splitters.

REG: We're the People's Front of Judea!

LORETTA: Oh. I thought we were the Popular Front.

REG: People's Front! C-huh.

FRANCIS: Whatever happened to the Popular Front, Reg?

REG: He's over there.

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IDFIMH