My mind must be playing tricks, but I was sure there were several previous articles on door signage in Southampton, but can't find anything recent.
It's maybe Portsmouth I was thinking of, but the most recent relevant article is about a year old, and it just doesn't seem that long ago I'm thinking about. (Or maybe it's an age thing - you think something just happened a couple of months ago, but turns out it's a year ago - the older you get, the faster time seems to be going
)
Anyway, this article is about ten days old now.
Approval to change signage on city's private hire cars hailed as 'landmark' decisionhttps://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/235919 ... -approved/PRIVATE hire drivers are celebrating after plans to create new rules on signage were approved by civic chiefs.The movement led by Solent Private Hire Alliance will see the signage on private hire vehicles changed in a bid to allow them to work for more than one operator.
It comes following a number of "issues" in the private hire industry operators since the introduction of app-based companies.
The new signage will give drivers the flexibility to work with more than one operator and choose as and when they work for them.
The current rules meant that signage displayed the name of the operator on the side of the vehicle, but the approved plans will see the removal of the need for an operator name.
Vehicles will still be clearly marked.
Jay Chowdhury, chairman of Solent Private Hire Alliance, said: "The policy that we had before was infringing on our workers' rights."
He added that public safety is "paramount", with a number of restrictions being put in place in order to protect customers.
"It's a landmark decision," he said.
"Most drivers have been in favour, it means drivers are more flexible to choose who they work for.
"Drivers are over the moon, there was a lot of support from drivers throughout the whole process."
The motion was put forward by SPHA and GMB, a general trade union.
Jay previously raised the plans to change the door signage on private-hire vehicles as the signage restricted drivers from working for one operator.
He said that this meant that many drivers were "locked in" by operators.
The initial plans were rejected but the decision was appealed.
The plans went through a consultation process and were approved on Wednesday night.
Councillor Toqeer Kataria said: "It allows drivers the freedom to work for more than one operator at a time but places control to ensure bookings accepted by a driver are fulfilled.
"This is a significant change, the impact will be monitored both locally and in other parts of the country as authorities find ways to address the issues raised by the introduction of new technology in the private hire industry.
"Again Southampton appears to be leading the way in promoting public safety as we did when mandating Southampton licensed vehicles have taxi cameras.”
Ali Haydor, GMB National Representative said: “GMB union welcomes the decision by the licensing committees of Southampton and Oldham Councils, as our members have been waiting for this change for a long time.
"GMB is a champion for any worker suffering from any kind of restrictive working practice and as such this is a big win for the union but more importantly for our members
"An unfair policy is a bad policy and GMB, as a campaigning union, will always fight to have these overturned, as we have done with Uber up to the highest courts in the land.
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