Taxi Driver Online

Got this e-mail from the London site, to which TDO is a member.

Alex


Hi, as you are probably aware we now have a new rank outside Nobu, Berkeley St.

Since this rank has been put in place, the Ponytail doorman and his scummy scab friends have been using all manner of dirty tactics to prevent us from working it, and as there is no enforcement from the authorities, the LTDF have decided to take action of our own.

We are planning a mass drive-in on Saturday night at 11pm, and it would be great if you would support us.

The objective of this exercise is threefold...

1. To take back the work that is rightfully ours.

2. To show Mr Ponytail and his scab mates that we will not tolerate their blocking tactics.

3. To show the authorities that if they do not take action, we will take it ourselves.

Please keep circling the area until a space becomes available, and then put on the rank.

If you care about the Taxi trade, please do your bit to protect it.

See you there!

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ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ

Simply the best taxi forum in the whole wide world. www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Is this an RMT demo?

I'm suprised, as they described TDO as a forum for wannabe taxi drivers and Minicab drivers, but it's ok when they want to promote their issues?

I might drop by with my LTDA banner.

TDO has been called a lot worse, and I'm pretty sure the admin of TDO couldn't give a flying **** what anyone thinks or says about them.

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IDFIMH

I'll see you there then?

Hi GBC, no its not a RMT led demo, although no doubt a few active members will be present!

Its organised by your mates over on the LTDF, you and your LTDA banner are more than welcome , the more the merrier, lets face it, taxi politics apart we all share one goal.

See you there.

But you don't start until 3am CSP, will you really be there?

It's a waste of your fingers to type both LTDF and RMT, lets face it, they're the same thing now that anyone with an opposing voice has been barred.

Me at an RMT demo? What do you think?

i didn't hear any mention of RMT anywhere.........as far as i'm aware it just cabbies looking to ensure the rank is being worked properly and not giving the touts a chance to move in.

Cabbies pulling together isn't such a bad thing is it ? Or do we really need to drag poxy trade politics into every little thing we try and do for the benefit of the trade ?

I'm so sick to death of RMT this, LTDA that.............the only people it suits are the t***s at the top who get a tidy payment for doing next to fu*k all then appear for photo shoots and claim kudos for something............it's sickening!

It's drivers like you GBC, CSP and myself who are out there at night attempting to provide a service whilst having to deal with the sh*t that is foistered upon us by all and sundry! Had the trade orgs (and i mean ALL of them) pulled their dopey heads out of their ar*es years ago and focused on the real issues rather than gunning for each other we would not have a fraction of the problems we have today.

I guess i'm naive when i say it but i pull on these ranks and go on demonstrations to support my fellow cabbie and that is all i see when i'm out there.........cabbies like myself trying to earn a living! I don't ask what trade org a driver is in, it means fu*k all to me, i'm more interested in the persons history, how long they've been a cabbie, what were they doing before this etc etc. I like to get to know the person as an individual and not because of who he pays subs to.

rant over........................i'm off this evening, been working all day so am looking forwards to a few beers. If you're working Greig, get yourself down to NOBU and say hi to the fellas, you might actually find them a good bunch of guys who only care about your and my trade.

Be Lucky.

Well most nights, eh Stef?

l

TDO was represented at the new Nobu rank tonight.

My E-mail to Francis Chambers from CX and others constant phone calls about the Minicabs activities also appear to have had some impact, as we were joined by two of the Mets finest who watched over tonights rank workings.

The touts organiser, Mick Fleetwoods double, who works on the front door of the venue was very polite and well behaved.

I just hope when the economy picks up again, the 'new' night drivers don't forget where the demand is . . and of course where the money is.

every man is entitled to a night off..............i just choose to have more than the average man!

As for drivers still servicing the ranks when the economy picks up. I really hope they will. I'm sure the guys i know will continue to provide a service because many have been out there night after night trying their hardest to win back some of the work off touts and i can't imagine will want to give it back too easily.

I guess time will tell.

I wish we could have some sort of getting together to sort out our illegal rank problem but it is just not going to happen .I am hoping that the new license of offices will make a differences but i am not holding my breath .I hope your protest goes well please let me know how you get on .

It turned out not to be a protest as such, more of a deliberate presence at a new taxi rank outside a club who really don't want it there, as it interferes with their in-house (or touted at the door) Minicab service who charge about twice the price of a real taxi.

Luckily their customers do want real taxis, and this seems to annoy them.

Never mind.

I think a few drivers keep in contact through this 'Tweet' / 'Twitter' thing.

Not for me, but some folks seem to get on with it.
You'd be surprised how many like minded drivers are around you in Dundee, try putting the feelers out.

(The taxi rank at Nobu was put in place by the LTDA. )

Are they allowed to do that? Does the Mayor know about this?

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Grandad,

ok, time for a bit of honesty here. Were it not for the efforts of the night drivers in servicing the many venues at night and in particular NOBU this rank would never have come to fruition. The LTDA may have had a hand in the negotiations for the 4 new ranks but they didn't instigate the whole thing; that was more to do with the pressure being put on the parking services, the met and the aggro the buses were having in getting past the rows of double parked vehicles.

Interestingly, i asked R. Massett if it were possible to have a marshall on the TIGER TIGER rank to ensure the rank was kept free (just a few hours on a Fri or Sat night) and he told me it wasn't a viable proposition as the marshall wouldn't have any power to move on the touts parked up there. I noticed the night NOBU rank went live there were a few LTDA reps there with their hi-viz jackets on, ensuring the rank was kept free and moving! Amazing what a camera and the glare of publicity can do for some.

As for the negotiations, perhaps the next time they enter into any with WCC or other local authorities, they should take along working taxi drivers who happen to know the kicking out times of certain venues. Quite why they agreed to have the rank outside Jalouse finish at 3am is beyond me (the time the club finishes and when we really need the space, instead we have the touts sticking two fingers up at us telling us the rank is inactive ) ?

But trade nonsense aside, it's great to see the rank in place, i put on there last night and though it was a slow mover i did eventually get something. The minicabs were still there in attendance but this time inside the restaurant; whilst we have that stupid satellite office rule in place we just have to accept this daft situation...............perhaps the trade elders in the various offices of power throughout the trade orgs will awaken from their slumber and instigate a legal challenge or at least have a wise word with the new guv'nr to retract it ASAP.

We live in hope................but glad to see you made it there GBC, i assume we can count on your support for the next one ?

You've answered it really, the LTDA negotiated the ranks through The Ranks Committee.

That's all they can do, negotiate, no one can force WCC to instigate a rank. Quite why the Tenterdon St one finishes at 3am, who knows?

Will any Taxis be there at 3am on a Friday or Saturday? I'd suspect you'd be hailed long before reaching Hanover Square. It's like the Saturday night thing, after about 1am there wasn't a cab to be seen anywhere near the Nobu rank, as you were being grabbed long before you reached it.

I'm always happy to help, it would have been nice to see some of the main names supporting this 'action' though.
I guess Dissy was busy on his computer, and Jim Thomas was making up another post on his Tank Engine page instead of helping to meet the demand.

Do as I say, not as I do . . etc.

I've PM'd you regarding this TweetaLondonCab thing.

Be lucky.