Taxi Driver Online
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/

Representation?
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8995		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  cabby john [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Representation?
There has been an attempt to set up another Taxi Association down here, we keep on reading about one body who claim to be the representative of hundreds of drivers but seems to be run by one of the ethnic groups - unfortunately they have overseen hundreds of additional licenses being issued without a murmur and more are still being issued, we have also had the loss of about 5 ranks and a tariff increase turned down. So it is fair to say the drivers have had enough.

A meeting took place recently to form a new T.A with over 100 drivers attending covering all nationalities, with the intention of having your normal Chairman,Sec,Treasurer and a representative of two people from each of the different nationalities to make up the quorum - in an attempt to show fairness all round.

Word has come back that the Council are only prepared to recognise one body, can they do this as surely you have the right to belong to any trade union/association.
Author:  MR T [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
they certainly cannot do that.... do you think they would play the same game with the t&g
Author:  MR T [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Have emailed something that might help.......Trev...
Author:  JD [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Representation?
cabby john wrote:
There has been an attempt to set up another Taxi Association down here, we keep on reading about one body who claim to be the representative of hundreds of drivers but seems to be run by one of the ethnic groups - unfortunately they have overseen hundreds of additional licenses being issued without a murmur and more are still being issued, we have also had the loss of about 5 ranks and a tariff increase turned down. So it is fair to say the drivers have had enough.

A meeting took place recently to form a new T.A with over 100 drivers attending covering all nationalities, with the intention of having your normal Chairman,Sec,Treasurer and a representative of two people from each of the different nationalities to make up the quorum - in an attempt to show fairness all round.

Word has come back that the Council are only prepared to recognise one body, can they do this as surely you have the right to belong to any trade union/association.


Didn't Bolton council do that when Charlie Oaks got frozen out?? Why not form a cab committee made up of the individual organisations, or are you too far apart that you can't agree on anything?

If you are the largest organisation why don't you inform the council that you are the major representative of your local cab trade and you demand they are given a voice.

Regards

JD
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Representation?
cabby john wrote:
..... and a tariff increase turned down. So it is fair to say the drivers have had enough.


How did you apply for your tariff increase; with or without calculations to support the increase?

Did you use the latest formula that council's are finding difficult to argue against, because the bones of the formula were contained in OFT956?

When did you last have an increase?

cabby john wrote:
Word has come back that the Council are only prepared to recognise one body, can they do this as surely you have the right to belong to any trade union/association.


Don't think they can do that!

BUT. If you have a number of representative bodies all singing different psalms & hymns, that is music to the councils ears, because they can then divide & conquer & choose the option from one of the representative bodies that best fits their plan or thinking.

The better way, & I'm not saying it's perfect, is for the council to recognise one COLLECTIVE organisation for the trade & for all trade representative bodies to belong to that collective organisation & to thrash out responses to problems & present a united front to the council.

Yes, I know; much easier said than done.

But if you don't try that method you won't know if it will work.

For the record, this is what we now do in Brum & it works better than multiple representation.
Author:  cabby john [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Trevor quite a bit of reading there - I take it that the definition of "Stakeholder" means a representative of xxxx members?

Quote:
If you are the largest organisation why don't you inform the council that you are the major representative of your local cab trade and you demand they are given a voice.


JD not quite so simple unfortunately - if they say the other side has for e.g 700 members and you only have 150 then you cannot make the claim that yours/mine is the major representative.

To yourself and Trevor - I am wondering would any so called representative organisation have to have a constitution, showing their purpose to their members, along with records of membership, meetings and financial records in order to prove that they were bonafide? As it stands without records anyone can make these claims.

What I believe that we have now is an ethnic (so called representative group) probably close on to 100% Asian membership, and this is more than likely illegal as it is almost bordering on racism because no one that I know (white) belongs to them - there again I work totally nights and this body may just be a group that belongs to the dayshift :roll:
Author:  MR T [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
It doesn't matter whether you are the largest or the smallest group you are entitled to representation.... throw the best practise act at them.... and ask them if it is best practice to simply listen to the views of one group and exclude the opinions of another.... and were in the best-practice guidelines does it State they should follow this line... addresses it to their legal department.... and stipulate a time period in which you expect them to reply...... also contact your local councillors requesting them for an answer.....mp"s are good too :lol:
Author:  Sussex [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Representation?
cabby john wrote:
Word has come back that the Council are only prepared to recognise one body, can they do this as surely you have the right to belong to any trade union/association.

The council will have to listen to anyone with a voice no-matter who and what they are.

You are not asking to be recognized by the council, as they have no authority to recognize anyone, you are telling them what your views are and what your demands are.

The council deal with umpteen unions in relation to their staff, so it's not that much of a problem for them to deal with at least two taxi associations. Any problems just write to the council leader.

Or better still all park up outside his house for a few hours.
Author:  MR T [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Representation?
Sussex wrote:
cabby john wrote:
Word has come back that the Council are only prepared to recognise one body, can they do this as surely you have the right to belong to any trade union/association.

The council will have to listen to anyone with a voice no-matter who and what they are.

You are not asking to be recognized by the council, as they have no authority to recognize anyone, you are telling them what your views are and what your demands are.

The council deal with umpteen unions in relation to their staff, so it's not that much of a problem for them to deal with at least two taxi associations. Any problems just write to the council leader.

Or better still all park up outside his house for a few hours.

I don't think Sussex has ever dealt with a council that deliberately means to be difficult.... whose the licensing officer in charge... is it p s
Author:  Sussex [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Representation?
MR T wrote:
I don't think Sussex has ever dealt with a council that deliberately means to be difficult.... whose the licensing officer in charge... is it p s

Oh yes I have, but that's not an issue anymore. :wink:
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
you mean some are not difficult?....
Author:  JD [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:19 am ]
Post subject: 
cabby john wrote:
To yourself and Trevor - I am wondering would any so called representative organisation have to have a constitution,


Under normal circumstances a constitution yes, haven't you done that? Or is your organisation ad hoc? Ask Mr T to send you a copy of his local associations constitution and just copy that to your own needs. Once you do that you have all the legalities to go through to make the association bona fide.

Regards

JD
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:34 am ]
Post subject: 
are the council meeting open to comments from the public or not?
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
wannabeeahack wrote:
are the council meeting open to comments from the public or not?


A member of the public can attend any meeting as an observer & can speak, if invited to do so by the chairperson of the meeting, on issues that are relevant to them, otherwise every TD&H would want to speak about all & sundry.

If you want to speak at a licensing meeting that concerns your trade, it's best to arrive early & speak to the committee clerk & advise him that you wish to speak & on what agenda item. He will usually ask you one or two questions to ascertain who you are & the matter in question & then advise the chairperson before the meeting starts. It is then the chairpersons decision whether they allow you to speak or not, but usually they do.

If the agenda item concerns you directly, then you have a right to speak.

If you speak, it is best to make your points succinctly, don't ramble on & obviously with courtesy.
Author:  cabby john [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
JD wrote:
cabby john wrote:
To yourself and Trevor - I am wondering would any so called representative organisation have to have a constitution,


Under normal circumstances a constitution yes, haven't you done that? Or is your organisation ad hoc? Ask Mr T to send you a copy of his local associations constitution and just copy that to your own needs. Once you do that you have all the legalities to go through to make the association bona fide.

Regards

JD


It is amazing how the rumblings of starting another representative body can stir people up, the existing representative body has been quite dormant to say the least with the chairman resigning and the position being temporarily/permanently (not sure) taken over by another driver who is now actively canvasing for new members, and strangely enough they are now going to have a meeting with the council over the points raised :shock:

Whether or not the new organisation goes forward or not remains to be seen but will nevertheless be interesting. One thing that has come out of this is that the L.A are continuing to issue new plates even though there is no unmet demand, apparently they say that the drivers themselves will regulate this by deciding whether or not they can earn a living i.e drivers leaving drivers coming in.

My argument against this policy is that the policy is flawed on the grounds of safety, take for instance a driver of 50 years of age or for that matter myself 61 how are people of that age going to get alternative employment, they cannot just pack it in because they have living costs just like everyone else thus leaving the drivers with no alternative but to work extreme hours endangering themselves and the public.


I have put this to another of our members and would appreciate your comments -
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/