Bid to halt Rossendale cabbie strike fails
7:30pm Friday 15th October 2010
Residents face travel disruption after an 11th hour bid to call off a strike by Rossendale cabbies failed.
The action is being taken next week over over the introduction a controversial new penalty points system.
Under the scheme, Hackney cab and mini-cab drivers could be hit with penalty points if they commit one of 34 minor breaches.
Sounding a horn to announce arrival at an address would land the driver with four points; parking on the kerb would see them hit with three points; and urinating or defecating in public would result in eight points.
If a driver accrues 20 points within a year, they could have to re-sit their test or have their licence revoked.
Rossendale Council had offered to extend a consultation over the controversial scheme but cabbies are calling for it to be scrapped.
Glenn Bulcock, chair of Rossendale Taxi Association, said: “We were offered a longer period of consultation in the meeting but that is not good enough.
“We want the document withdrawn, it should never have gone to consultation without our input in the first place."
“Strike action will start next week. There will be night strikes, weekend strikes and morning strikes until the document is withdrawn.”
Stuart Sugarman, Rossendale Council’s director of business, said it would cause disruption to residents and businesses in the borough.
“Our goal is to ensure that the taxis operating in the borough meet high standards and provide a good service that local people can rely on and trust,” he said.
“This is why we are consulting on the possibility of introducing a penalty points scheme for drivers to help maintain high standards."
“To avert the threat of a strike we offered to extend the consultation deadline on the penalty points scheme and to hold further meetings with the driver’s representatives with the aim of achieving some common ground."
“Unfortunately, this offer was rejected out of hand and the drivers issued their ultimatum to hold a strike and cause disruption."
“We have made it clear to the drivers all long that this is only a consultation and it is already clear that some changes will be made to the proposals that are out for consultation."
“The council’s door remains open and I will meet with the drivers at short notice to discuss any proposals for finding common ground and avoid an unnecessary strike which will adversely affect residents and businesses in the borough.”
Source; http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... ike_fails/
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