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PostPosted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:37 pm 
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John, a 28-year-old veteran of the city's taxi trade, told the YEP how the lack of consistency in standards just makes no sense.

I'm guessing the veteran John has been in the trade for 28 years, and is actually a bit older than 28 :?

(A new and slightly different article over on page 1, in case anyone is interested.)


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 5:42 pm 
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Leeds taxi drivers to go on another nine-hour strike as council begs them to reconsider

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... r-22854348

Private hire taxi drivers in Leeds are holding another protest in the city this weekend - but the council is urging them to 'reconsider'

Leeds City Council has asked taxi drivers in Leeds to “reconsider” their strike after organising another nine hour protest on Saturday night.

Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) announced they will strike on January 29, 2022, from 10pm until 6am the following morning.

The planned action comes as they continue to protest against the authorities Suitability and Convictions Policy, which has been in place since February 2020.

The safeguarding policy for the public could see the drivers lose their licence for "minor issues” like a small argument.

Last week, they organised a 24-hour protest against the policy and chair of the group Ahmed Hussain vowed to continue protesting until they can get the policy reversed.

Cllr Debra Coupar has urged the drivers to reconsider the protest and continue dialogue with the authority over the suitability policy.

She said: “We have been made aware of the proposed strike action on Saturday the 29 January by the taxi and Leeds Private Hire trade organisation (LPHDO).

"Our priority is to minimise the impact of this proposed action as much as we can, and to make sure everyone who may be affected is aware of the situation and any potential disruption, with solutions being identified where possible.

“We would ask the taxi and Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) to reconsider their planned action, and continue their dialogue with us over the proposed accumulation of minor motoring convictions criterion of the suitability policy in order to achieve a positive outcome for all parties.”


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:22 pm 
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“We would ask the taxi and Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) to reconsider their planned action, and continue their dialogue with us over the proposed accumulation of minor motoring convictions criterion of the suitability policy in order to achieve a positive outcome for all parties.”

The fact that the drivers are prepared to not work at the busiest most lucrative shift of the week is clear evidence that they aren't getting anywhere with the council.

This has been going on for years, surely the council must now know what the difficulties are. So they need to either change policy or just accept the trade not working at certain times.

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:14 pm 
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This later article in the YEP suggests it's not finalised yet and there's talks with the council tomorrow. So looks more like sabre rattling at this stage rather than a definite strike :?


'Enough is enough': Leeds faces Saturday night taxi driver strike ahead of make-or-break city council meeting

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ng-3540123

Leeds taxi drivers are threatening further strike action on Saturday ahead of Wednesday's make-or-break city council meeting.

[...]Speaking to the YEP, LPHDO Vice Chairman Zahir Mahmood explained that strike action for Saturday (January 29) was not yet set.

"We can't give an update on the strike yet as it hasn't been properly finalised but we are thinking along the lines of a Saturday night protest." Zahir said.

Wednesday will see drivers sit down with Leeds City Council members as part of their quarterly meeting and Zahir hopes that further strike action can be avoided.

"Let's see what happens at that meeting and hopefully sense will prevail." he said. "We might not even have to do the strike."[...]


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:41 pm 
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Statement on proposed strike by taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds this weekend

https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/statemen ... is-weekend

Leeds City Council's response to proposed strike action from 10pm on Saturday 29 January until 6am on Sunday 30 January

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council's deputy leader and executive member for resources, said:

“We have been made aware of proposed strike action this Saturday 29 January by taxi and private hire drivers and would like to make anyone who may be impacted by the potential disruption aware of the situation.

“The proposed strike action is from 10pm this Saturday night until 6am the following morning. It is not clear how many taxi and private hire drivers will participate in the strike action. The council recognises everyone’s right to take strike action but it is sensible for us to ensure people are aware to help minimise any potential disruption to people’s travel arrangements.

“If you are out or working this Saturday night and would normally rely on taxi or private hire transport to get home please ensure you consider alternative travel arrangements after 10pm.

“We have asked the taxi and private hire trade organisations to reconsider their planned action, and continue their dialogue with us over the proposed accumulation of minor motoring convictions criterion of the suitability policy in order to achieve a positive outcome for all parties.”

Notes to editors:

All West Yorkshire and York councils ran a joint public consultation from November 2018 to January 2019 with proposals for a joint Suitability and Convictions Policy across the region. The results of that consultation were reported back to all councils with all councils adopting the policy during 2019/2020. The taxi and private hire licensing trade raised some concerns regarding the proposals for how minor motoring convictions would be considered, and councillors in Leeds agreed to pause the implementation of that part of the suitability policy to review the proposals and agree a further period of consultation.

A working group of councillors in Leeds heard representations from the trade and other stakeholders and considered revised proposals for minor motoring convictions which the licensing committee and executive board agreed to consult upon. The consultation ran from 22 October to 15 November 2021 and the council received 2,214 responses from the trade and public. The results of the consultation are currently being analysed and will be reported to the licensing committee and executive board for a decision.

Throughout the consultation, councillors have met with trade representatives to listen to their views and ensure they are kept informed of progress. The council is committed to consultation at all levels and will always be prepared to listen and reply to any areas of concern raised by the trade in a constructive manner.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 6:34 pm 
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Leeds taxi strike causes fury across city as angry customers left stranded as they rant about Uber surge prices

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... y-22921796

As taxi drivers staged a strike across Leeds on Saturday night many customers were left feeling the strain as Uber prices skyrocketed

Image
Image: Samuel Port/LeedsLive

As taxi drivers staged a strike across Leeds last night in protest to proposed changes to licensing rules, many angry customers have taken to social media to express their frustration at Uber’s decision to capitalise on the increase in demand.

With so many people wanting to get home safely on Saturday night, be it from a night of revelry or due to Storm Malik’s widespread disruption of public transport, many had turned to Uber after their usual taxis had chosen to strike.

Yet rather than stick to their regular pricing structure, the company implemented surge pricing, a move which saw prices across the city skyrocket and many customers wallets weep.

In just one of several examples, Twitter user @ChrisTownie highlighted that a simple 7.9 mile journey from Leeds to Morley had cost a whopping £46 - a price best epitomised by the accompanying vomit emojis!

Yet he wasn’t the only one unimpressed by the situation, with twitter user @keer_nigel also sharing his frustration, before admitting he had refused to pay the exorbitant prices and instead opted to make his 3 mile journey home on foot.

In a tweet posted on Sunday morning, he said: “To all the striking taxi drivers in Leeds: Thanks very much! I had to walk three miles home, but hey - I saved around £15! So f* you!”

Other customers out and about in Leeds had also expressed their annoyance at the high prices, with several revealing that they were looking at a £30+ Uber price tag to get a taxi from the city centre to Kirkstall and £20+ to Street Lane.

Yet it wasn’t just the pricing that was a cause for concern for some Leeds residents, it was the timing of the strike itself, a Saturday night at a peak point of demand. It was an issue of safety, particularly for women, as one user, @madirae pointed out.

In a series of tweets posted prior to the strike on Saturday afternoon, she said:

“Usually have so much respect for anyone striking but Leeds taxi & Uber drivers striking from 10pm-6am on a Sat night over licensing rules which prevent dangerous people becoming drivers seems more like a way to force women to walk home alone in a city with no night transport?!”

“Especially weird & scary considering the point of the licensing rules they’re protesting & the fact this has been publicised massively in the news so that predators will know that more people will be in a vulnerable position tonight.”

“Fair enough telling people to make alternative plans before they go on a night out or whatever, but what about people working in clubs who have no option to stay at home tonight & will be leaving after town dies down so it’s even more dangerous?!”

“Surely a solution would have been for the council to organise better night bus services, considering they’ve had warning of this for a while. It’s such an avoidance of duty of care & I really hope nothing bad comes from it, but it’s giving me such an icky feeling.”

Despite the strike however, there was no shortage of taxis in Leeds last night, with a dead lock of the vehicles spotted down Vicar Lane at about 11.20pm.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 6:34 pm 
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Despite the strike however, there was no shortage of taxis in Leeds last night, with a dead lock of the vehicles spotted down Vicar Lane at about 11.20pm.

](*,)

Ah, so you did an article on a 'shortage' of 'taxis', but right at the end tell readers that there wasn't a shortage of taxis at all.

Or maybe the shortage arose later than the taxi 'deadlock' at 11.20pm?

Or maybe a queue of HCs is a bit different to the PHVs which are the main focus of the 'taxi' strike?


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 3:28 pm 
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Irresistible force meets immovable object, by the looks of things :?

But not much to see here, apart from the slightly amusing strapline :lol:


Leeds taxi drivers to hold another huge protest in fight against policy change

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... r-23465748

GMB Private Hair and Taxi drivers will protest outside the Civic Hall in Millenium Square


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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 9:09 pm 
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Leeds taxi driver jobless for months as council 'takes him off the road'

A Leeds taxi driver has been out of work for almost one year after Leeds City Council revoked his taxi license.

Abid, who is a Leeds Taxi and Private Hire Organisation (LPHDO) driver, says he had his licence revoked by Leeds Council in July 2021 after a small dispute with a customer over the placing of his metre reader.

The suspension came under the Suitability and Convictions policy which came into place in February 2020. It is alleged the new policy can see taxi drivers suspended for minor issues like a small argument which could result in them losing their licence.

The change in the policy has worried LPHDO 'forcing' them to hold a peaceful protest and a series of strikes to fight against the policy. Hundreds of drivers gathered on Wednesday, March 23, to stand against the changes made by Leeds City Council and beg for them to meet them in the middle with demands.

Abid, who was at the protest, claims he had picked up a customer who challenged him on the positioning of his meter reader - the customer then continued to question why the metre was still running when Abid had stopped the taxi at a red light.

Abid alleged the customer must have reported him to Leeds Council who phoned him asking him to come down and show proof of his taxi meter. He said: "I was taken into an interview room without being allowed to consult solicitors."

"They said if you don't listen we will suspend you. I said OK you keep my badge but you don't need to suspend the vehicle because it belongs to somebody else. They wouldn't listen, they were very rude. They said they would send me a letter and within 21 days I can appeal."

Abid has finally been given a date for his appeal - the date is in June meaning he will have been without a licence for one year. He claims to be worried about money as he has been left without work for months due to the wait for the letter.

He added: "It has affected me very badly, very stressful. If you ring city council they never answer or if email then no reply. They wont listen. In the last two years this will be the third time it's happened."

A Leeds City Council spokesperson, said: "We are aware of the referenced case, which is still subject to legal proceedings, and so it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage."

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 2:26 pm 
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Normally in many cases like this my first thought is that it would be interesting to hear the driver's version of events.

Here, it's the other way round - would like to hear the council's take on this, but of course they can't say much because it's under appeal, as per their statement.

But, I mean, there's got to be more to this than is portrayed by the driver. Somehow doubt the council took his licence simply because he had a minor disagreement with a customer over the meter.

And I use the unprofessional term 'took his licence', because that's one of the oddities of the article. It starts by saying he was revoked, then that he's just been suspended:

Leeds Live wrote:
A Leeds taxi driver has been out of work for almost one year after Leeds City Council revoked his taxi license.

Abid, who is a Leeds Taxi and Private Hire Organisation (LPHDO) driver, says he had his licence revoked by Leeds Council in July 2021 after a small dispute with a customer over the placing of his metre reader.

The suspension came under the Suitability and Convictions policy which came into place in February 2020. It is alleged the new policy can see taxi drivers suspended for minor issues like a small argument which could result in them losing their licence.

So presumably either the driver and/or the author of the article doesn't know the difference between a suspension and a revocation. Which is fair enough to a degree (it's a newspaper article, not the text of a court judgement), but to that extent maybe better to avoid legalistic terms like that if they're used incorrectly/inconsistently. Indeed, the sub-editor (who presumably wrote the headline) goes for a more informal take on it, which is maybe better approach:

Leeds Live wrote:
Leeds taxi driver jobless for months as council 'takes him off the road'

On the other hand, the sub-editor presumably also wrote the strapline (which Sussex omitted), but which uses the r-word, and is even more intriguing :-o

Leeds Live wrote:
Leeds taxi driver jobless for months as council 'takes him off the road'

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... s-23502015

He has had his licence revoked three times in the past two years under the new policy regulations

But whether he was actually revoked or simply suspended, or what, then obviously he has a history, which may help explain the council's approach [-(

Quote:
He added: "It has affected me very badly, very stressful. If you ring city council they never answer or if email then no reply. They wont listen. In the last two years this will be the third time it's happened."

So in the year leading up to the meter incident, he'd been suspended (presumably) twice :-o

Anyway, will be interesting to hear how it turns out, and a bit more detail about what precisely happened. Assuming we even hear another peep about any of it :-$


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 6:51 pm 
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But, I mean, there's got to be more to this than is portrayed by the driver. Somehow doubt the council took his licence simply because he had a minor disagreement with a customer over the meter.

Indeed, in normal times drivers don't lose their license for one-off matters like this.

But maybe the driver didn't want to engage with the council over this matter, as they view the points system as flawed.

Which in turn left the council no option other than to suspend.

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