Tis the season to be strikey.
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/ ... abbies.php
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| Taxi drivers' threat of New Year strike http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5227 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Taxi drivers' threat of New Year strike |
Taxi drivers' threat of New Year strike A STRIKE could be brewing among Matlock taxi drivers in the run up to New Year's Eve. Taxi firms say they have suffered at the hands of Derbyshire Dales District Council policies, and reports suggest that cabs may boycott December 31 in protest. Operators in Matlock said this week they didn't know if a strike would take place, but they would support its motives. Michael Fox, of Fox Cars, said some drivers were using underhand tactics to get their share of trade. He said: "The council is taking money off us but isn't interested in doing anything about the problems. "It's a free for all and it's creating animosity between drivers. "If there was a strike we would consider getting on board because something needs to be done. "If the council don't do something about it, someone else will." Brian Masters, of Matlock Taxis added: "(A strike) is probably brewing. "The council have never given us a proper rank, they just give us little corners which have been failures. "I can't really answer if we would strike, I would have to see whether it would do any good or if we would just be throwing away a day's takings. "I would support it in principle, but I think the drivers would be the ones who would suffer." Struggling taxi firms were dealt a blow earlier this year when the district council imposed a 13 per cent hike in cost for their licences. And drivers slammed council action to stop them waiting outside Somerfield, Matlock Bus Station, The Derbyshire Building Society and the former Kwik Save store. Inspector Paul Corton of Matlock police said a taxi strike on a busy New Year's Eve would be cause for concern for the police, but he didn't believe it would take place. He said: "There are a lot of independent taxi drivers in town and the longer established companies are feeling threatened. "I received a letter expressing concern about the number of drivers coming in from outside. "These drivers are legitimate, but there is this underlying tension. "I haven't heard anything about a strike and I would be surprised if it were to happen on New Year's Eve. "Obviously, I'm concerned as it would be a bad time for it to happen." A spokesperson for Derbyshire Dales District Council said: "The district council has not had any contact from the taxi operators saying that they intend to go on strike on New Year's Eve." Do you agree with the taxi drivers? Email us on news@matlockmercury .co.uk. Story by Richard Woolley 20 December 2006 |
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| Author: | skippy41 [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:21 pm ] |
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I would not strike over the new year, but if I was in there shoes I would refuse to do school contracts until the mess is cleared up, and the taxi ranks they are entitled to are provided |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:30 pm ] |
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The article says a lot without actually telling us anything. CC |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 6:11 pm ] |
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Tis the season to be strikey.
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/ ... abbies.php |
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| Author: | GMB Branch secretary [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:52 pm ] |
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Onwards Brothers if you need some fireworks try MrT AGITATE |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:52 pm ] |
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Taxi strike threat, could it be a hoax? TAXI operators in Matlock say they will be working on New Year's Eve – labelling strike threats a hoax. Drivers in the town have long protested about what they say is poor policing of cabs by Derbyshire Dales District Council, and anonymous tip-offs to the Mercury suggested that taxis would boycott December 31. But drivers say without a union there would be no way for them to mount an effective protest. It is feared any strike action among taxi drivers would spell trouble by leaving crowds of New Year revellers stranded in the town centre. Brian Masters, of Matlock Taxis, this week told the Mercury: "I think it's a hoax. "There is no union or federation of the taxi drivers anymore so there is no use strIking unless you know everybody is going to strike. "Now it's all just every man for himself. "If somebody said to me that they were all striking I would strike with them because we've always said the way the council treats us is disgusting." John Bailey, owner of JB Taxis, said he didn't think a strike would take place. "All the drivers have been talking and most of them said they would be waiting to see what the others do," he said. "We only take private bookings on New Year's Eve because of problems in the past, and we are already booked up. "New Year's Eve can be a problem because everyone comes out of the pubs and wants to go home at the same time." We reported last week that taxi drivers said they would consider strike action in protest at district council policies. Last year the authority hiked the taxi licence fee by 13 per cent and removed taxi waiting bays from outside Somerfield, Matlock Bus Station, The Derbyshire Building Society and the former Kwik Save store. Visitors to the Mercury website, matlocktoday.co.uk, have this week given their support to struggling drivers in the town. Fellow cab driver Graham Gray, from the Scottish borders, said: "I totally agree with the drivers in your area, but I would not go on strike on that day (New Year's Eve). "I would take a different course of action by refusing to do school contracts. "This could go on indefinitely until the council sorts out its problems, and provides the proper taxi ranks they are entitled to. "Derbyshire Dales District Council is now under a nationwide spotlight as the story is now on display at www.taxi-driver.co.uk, so we wait with baited breath to see if the council will act or make bigger idiots of themselves." A spokesperson for Derbyshire Dales District Council was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press. See the letters on page ten for more on this subject. By Richard Woolley 27 December 2006 |
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| Author: | GMB Branch secretary [ Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:16 pm ] |
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There we read the inevitable result of every man for himself, The GMB Professional Drivers Branch is willing and available. Terry Flanagan GMB Professional Drivers Branch 07958 275 339. Why not call? |
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| Author: | GBC [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:16 am ] |
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I'm having a sympathy strike for them on the 31st. Well, that's my excuse. 
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| Author: | cabby john [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:38 am ] |
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Taxi drivers are their own worst enemy (greedy) they would not & will not sacrifice a days takings to get what they want - never mind new years eve. Strike on new years eve - you are having a laugh. P.S I will not be working new years eve - I have got 364 other nights in the year to make money. |
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| Author: | JD [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:29 am ] |
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GMB Branch secretary wrote: There we read the inevitable result of every man for himself, The GMB Professional Drivers Branch is willing and available.
Terry Flanagan GMB Professional Drivers Branch 07958 275 339. Why not call? Terry, I think Matlock could be fertile recruiting ground for the GMB, why don't you write or phone the people mentioned in the above article and tell them you are concerned at the lack of representation in Matlock and that you are willing to help Taxi drivers and owners set up a cohesive branch of the GMB that will properly represent their views in all matters appertaining to the Taxi trade? On the surface, it would seem to me that the reason they have no representation is because they have been disillusioned with the inability of past representatives to get things done. A new broom with the clout of the GMB might be the answer? Regards JD |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:32 am ] |
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The paper is fairly consistent, no actual reporting of what the problems are. CC |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:54 am ] |
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'Damage is done' says taxi firms DISGRUNTLED taxi drivers held off from mooted strike action on New Year's Eve, saying it is too late for the council to repair its damage to town trade. In recent weeks we reported on rumours of a strike in protest of Derbyshire Dales District Council's policies on taxi ranks and licensing. Drivers are understood to have worked the busy final hours of 2006, but operators admit they fear for the future of their businesses. John Bailey, owner of JB Taxis, said he was considering taking another two of his cars off the road. He said: "There's nothing the council can do now because they've saturated the town with taxis. It's too late." The Mercury received tip-offs that cab drivers may boycott December 31 in response to removal of taxi ranks from the town centre and a hike in licence fees – all while new badges are being issued. Mr Bailey added: "The district council issue taxi badges for the Derbyshire Dales, but all the drivers come to Matlock. "I once had 14 cars and now I'll be down to five." Derbyshire Dales District Council has said advice from Government is to not limit the number of taxis on the road. In this week's vote on www.matlocktoday.co.uk, 28 per cent of voters said they would back the taxi drivers if they were to strike. A further 28 per cent said you would support strike action but it would not do any good. The remainder said you would not back any walk-out. |
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