Cabbies call off Gatwick Airport blockade at last minuteA PLAN by outraged taxi drivers to blockade Gatwick Airport was called off at the last minute.
The protest looked like causing chaos for travellers last Friday morning.
Members of Gatwick Airport Drivers Association (GADA) were preparing to carry out a rolling protest between the roundabout at junction 9 of the M23 and the roundabout on to the A23.
The majority of its members had voted in favour of the go-slow blockade to show their solidarity to four drivers.
The men at the centre of the dispute are no longer being given work by Airport Cars Gatwick, the company which has the contract for taxis at the airport.
It is claimed attempts by the association and Henry Smith, Crawley's MP, to organise a meeting with the airport and Airport Cars Gatwick were ignored.
This sparked the call for a blockade, but the action was cancelled at a meeting on Friday morning where about 90 drivers were finalising their plans.
Having been warned by police it would cause major disruption they decided to back down and get a union involved instead.
The four drivers are self-employed but were working at Gatwick for Checker Cars before its contract at the airport expired last year. Part of the agreement when the new firm took over was that Airport Cars Gatwick would employ all 252 drivers who had been working at the airport for Checker Cars.
Nigel Jones, who is chairman of GADA, is one of the four drivers no longer being given work.
Mr Jones said: "The drivers have been bullied by this company since day one. They are fearful for their jobs.
"The way I understand it, the drivers were all told if they took part in any protest they wouldn't have a job the next day."
Mr Jones believes his position as chairman of the association is the reason why he is being told there is no work for him.
Iffy Rafiq, another association member , was told last October he would no longer be getting work.
He said: "I worked at the airport for 15 years and not once did I feel threatened until this new company came in. I didn't even get a letter, they told me that I was no longer needed.
"As a group, the drivers are not sure where they stand but everyone will stick together."
The association had a meeting with the Unite union on Monday, where representatives agreed to take on the four drivers' case.
Mr Jones added: "I am glad to have the backing of the union and I am hopeful we will now be listened to.
"However, at the time I felt the rolling blockade was the right thing to do and I stand by that.
"Future industrial action is not ruled out if Airport Cars Gatwick or the airport will not recognise the union."
A spokesman for Airport Cars Gatwick said the drivers no longer getting work were "unwilling or unable" to meet its desired standard of service.
He said: "Airport Cars Gatwick put the customer at the centre of our focus.
"In support of this we have invested heavily in uniforms, technology and training.
"We require and ensure drivers accepting work from us are willing and capable of delivering the very best service possible.
"Unfortunately a very small minority of the drivers who had historically accepted work were unwilling or unable to engage with our high standards."
A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said the dispute should be resolved by Airport Cars Gatwick and GADA.
source:
http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Cabbies-t ... story.html
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