Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies’ 24-hour strike

TAXI drivers in Southend will block all cab ranks for 24-hour as part of strike over council conditions. The furious cabbies want to cut the amount of licences issued by the council in a bid to safeguard their futures.

Almost 200 packed into Southend Rugby Club for the annual meeting of the Southend Licensed Taxi Drivers Association where members joined forces with Hackney carriage and private hire cars and voted to take on the council.

Paul Sutton, chairman of the association, said industrial action would be held on a busy Saturday. He said: “We’re going to ask drivers to stop at noon on a Saturday and just sit in the ranks, to start 24 hours of no service.”

He said neighbouring taxi companies in Castle Point and Basildon, had assured them they would not send any cars into the town during the protest.

At the meeting on Tuesday night, the drivers voted unanimously to try to stop Southend Council increasing the number of new permits it grants each year – set to rise from 14 to 16 in 2010.

They also voted to try to get the council to consult taxi drivers on any policy that will affect their trade. Secretary of the taxi drivers association, Dave Clift, said: “If push comes to shove we will take industrial action. We must stick together.”

To cheers from members, Mr Clift also announced that if the issues are not resolved by January 1 the taxi drivers are going to start their own political party and run for election in Southend. He said: “I don’t want to run a council, I just want us to have a fair crack at the whip.

“We have already got people prepared to stand in every ward. We’re annoyed at politicians destroying Southend. I’ve earned my living in Southend, I’ve spent my money in Southend and now its not a very nice place to live.”

Southend West Tory MP David Amess also attended the meeting and said: “At the moment there are only 69 taxi rank spaces in major ranks in Southend town centre. “This makes it difficult to make a living as well as damaging the environment by leaving them driving around trying to find a space.”

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IDFIMH

Southend and strike.

Methinks there is a certain TF involved.

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IDFIMH

I'm sure the PH cars will clear up nicely that night.

Refusing to drive a passenger without a good reason is a breach of conditions here. ( I doubt if a strike would be considered good reason)
Probably obstruction as well.

I'll bet it won't last an hour, never mind a day.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

so they sit off rank,or stay in doors then they cannot be guilty of anything apart from annoying the wife ...

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GMB PDB London Branch President
Vice-chair National Organising Committee
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Another example of damned if you do damned if you don't.

Most people will accept a strike, they only need to be told.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPQcnjlwtE4

Well we know where were goin
But we dont know where weve been
And we know what were knowin
But we cant say what weve seen
And were not little children
And we know what we want
And the future is certain
Give us time to work it out

Were on a road to nowhere
Come on inside
Takin that ride to nowhere
Well take that ride

Im feelin okay this mornin
And you know,
Were on the road to paradise
Here we go, here we go

Chorus

Maybe you wonder where you are
I dont care
Here is where time is on our side
Take you there...take you there

Were on a road to nowhere
Were on a road to nowhere
Were on a road to nowhere

Theres a city in my mind
Come along and take that ride
And its all right, baby, its all right

And its very far away
But its growing day by day
And its all right, baby, its all right

They can tell you what to do
But theyll make a fool of you
And its all right, baby, its all right

Were on a road to nowhere

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Why do people insist on calling their actions a "strike" They are mainly self employed. They are not employed by the council so how can this action be called a "strike"?

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Grandad,

How would you describe planned not turning up for work then?

You're support is overwhelming these guys !!

Cynicism at it's best

The lack of support within the trade is what councils and LOs' rely on. They are almost guaranteed that the trade will not stick together and that it is nearly always just a handful of drivers trying to improve things for the rest. It's not just individual drivers that don't stick together the trade reps/unions etc are at each other instead of trying to work together too

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

As a self employed person, I would call it a day off.

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Grandad,

Makes a better story for the press rather than 'cab drivers have a night in'.

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IDFIMH

Depends on what they do

'Cab drivers indulge in **** zombie orgy with murders'

good dvd that

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin