Taxi Driver Online

A lot of people this week have told me that their is no black cabs working bhx airport & the only 1 company ranking up their is a private hire company with their marshals & managers leading customers into their cars if it is the end of the black cabs at the airport then their is a lot of cabbies who will not be doing much

well there were plenty of black cabs ranked up yesterday...

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I suspect the reason why there weren't many there today was due to this.

Birmingham Black Cab Protest

_________________
IDFIMH

Workers united.

_________________
IDFIMH

They were there on Sunday as well.

im there sunday morning about 4am, if the blackies arent there can i drive down the rank to the front door?

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

A little update.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... -23798980/


If true, is that really that onerous?

_________________
IDFIMH

Whilst I appreciate there may not be enough rank space they obviously could not be that dissappointed cos they didn't sign the contract. It was not taken away from them they gave it away because they wouldn't meet the terms required. This has been pointed out several times that larger companies etc will force the taxi trade to comply whether they like it or not.

I suppose when you're use to wearing whatever you like (whether it's smart or not) for work it comes as a bit of a shock to be told you have to wear a uniform especially if you're used to quite loose clothing. If the taxi trade don't get their act together they will see more and more premium ranks going to the likes of PH companies. Here endeth my humble opinion

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Protesting taxi drivers face prosecution threat

ANGRY taxi drivers who brought much of Birmingham city centre to a standstill in a slow-drive protest have been told they will be prosecuted if they do it again.

Police issued the warning after taxi divers took their bitter dispute with Birmingham International Airport to roads in the city. More than 300 slow-moving drivers from the Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association flooded Birmingham city centre on Thursday morning and evening causing traffic chaos. They staged a similar action in Solihull.

BASTA members, angry at how they lost a lucrative contract at the airport, deny deliberately snagging major routes in Birmingham to make their voices heard. But a police spokesman said: “West Midlands Police are committed to ensuring the free flow of traffic in and around the city centre to minimise disruption to people living, working and visiting there. Officers are keen to ensure people who feel they have genuine grievances are given an opportunity to express them in a lawful and peaceful manner. But people in communities affected by any such action should feel reassured public safety and security will always be our priority. Wherever it is felt offences have been committed we will consider prosecuting those responsible where appropriate.”

Irfaan Ahmed, chair of BASTA, denied his members were purposefully disrupting traffic. “There’s no offence here,” he said. “Because we are plying for hire in Birmingham. No one is blocking the roads – the council’s licencing committee have told us if there’s no spaces in the ranks drive around and look for hire.” An airport spokesperson said: “All Hackney carriage drivers are welcome to operate at Birmingham Airport. There’s nothing stopping them operating from the airport.

“All black cab drivers need to do is sign up to the new management company, Passenger Transport Solutions (PTS), which started managing the contract on the 1st June.”

An emergency meeting held between Solihull Council licensing sub-committee chair Peter Hogarth and the association ended on a note of optimism, Mr Ahmed said.

_________________
IDFIMH

some must have signed cos the BHX rank was full at 4am...

ive just finished after starting at 06.40 saturday....had a nap tho...

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Does anyone know if 'signed' involves parting with a sack of cash?

_________________
IDFIMH

We got told that many moons ago.

Several drive in’s later, no ones been prosecuted as far as I know.

You just drive to a point in the city. That's lawful, the fact another 7000 Taxis choose to follow. . Well, that’s life.

I think if the police want to make statements like that then drivers need to fight fire with fire.

I suggest they tell no-one in authority when the next protest happens, they don't have an official spokesman, other then maybe someone not involved directly in the protest, and they take it in turns to lead.

_________________
IDFIMH

They should hit the A38+inner ring road at 8am and again at 4pm...

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

No one would notice at that time because the road is already at a standstill.

_________________
Grandad,