Taxi row brews over disability course
By Steven Bell and Alan Wilson
SALOON CAR drivers in the Dundee taxi trade are refusing to attend mandatory disability awareness training—and are prepared to go to court to defend their position.
One trade association figure claimed the two-hour course was a waste of time for his members, but a rival organisation accused the saloon drivers of discrimination.
The training has been organised by Tayside Police and covers issues such as handling wheelchairs and how people with disabilities should be treated.
Graeme Stephen of Dundee Taxi Association said last night members of his association and the local trade union would not attend.
He said, “We have already done training but they are now showing you how to push a wheelchair into a car. How can a saloon car operator push a wheelchair into a car?
“We don’t see what the point is, and we don’t see why we should have to give up two or three hours of our time when we could be out earning.”
The saloon car drivers’ position has angered Dundee Wheelchair Taxi Association, which called on the council to “deal with” those not taking part in the training.
“We regard saloon car taxi drivers and operators, the Dundee Taxi Association and the TGWU of being blatantly discriminatory against disabled people and wheelchair users in particular,” said Erik Thoresen of the association.
“Every taxi driver in Dundee was supposed to go through the mandatory disabled awareness course, but we’ve been told that saloon car drivers are refusing to take the course.
“We believe they are discriminating against disabled people and it’s high time they were dealt with. It’s in the terms and conditions of their licences so why are they getting away with this? They are in total breach of their licence.
“The union should be making their members take the course and the council should be threatening any drivers who refuse with taking away their licences.
“We believe it’s a blatant attempt by the saloon drivers to yet again go against something the council want them to do.”
A Dundee City Council spokesman confirmed all taxi drivers in Dundee have to take part in disability awareness courses as it is a condition of their licence.
“This applies to drivers of all vehicles, whether (they are) saloon cars or wheelchair-accessible vehicles,” the spokesman said.
“New courses organised by Tayside Police are replacing those previously held at the Mackinnon Centre. The public have helped input additional elements into the new courses and the cost is included in the taxi driver licence fee.
“Priority on the courses is being given to drivers of wheelchair users but a course involving a mixture of them and saloon car drivers has been held and feedback from the drivers themselves indicated they found it to be an excellent experience.”
Mr Stephen, who is chairman of DTA, admitted that there could be a “messy” stand-off, adding, “If they want to go to court it’s up to them.”
He said a lot of non-member saloon drivers were of the same opinion about the course, but stressed it was nothing to do with discrimination.
Mr Stephen said drivers of saloon cars had helped disabled passengers into their vehicles for years and knew how to fold a wheelchair into their boot. “It’s that old saying: you don’t teach your granny to suck eggs,” he added.
Chris Elder of the TGWU union said he had written to the chief executive of Dundee City Council, Alex Stephen, saying members would not be taking part in the training.
“The situation is that our members can’t afford the time off—not with so many taxis operating in Dundee—and end up losing a half-day’s earnings,” said Mr Elder, taxi branch secretary of the union.
“What we are trying to say is, how many awareness courses do we have to do? We did a course at the Mackinnon Centre and people took a lot of time off there.
“If someone from the council goes on a course then they get paid for it, but taxi drivers can’t afford to take the time off.”
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008 ... 6473t0.asp
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