As for building organisations well RMT Unite and the GMB have put their noses into this group without too much success it must be said, maybe the RMT in London represents the best possibility for Hacks in London as for up in Scotland I have no info on any organised activity.
I think the mistakes made and reflected within your post is that the industry seems to believe in creating" associations" which is like trying to re-invent the wheel, to me the route is through Unions whose rule books and procedures should prevent the cronyism you allude to!
Remember they have been at it for in most cases over 100 years and have immense resources and much political influence which of course is absolutely essential within any industry be even more specifically within hack and ph areas!
Clearly any organisation will very soon reflect the intelligence and commitment of its membership activists are essential to its progress, and always the first lesson to me is INDUSTRIAL AND POLITICAL ACTIONS IS ALWAYS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE ROUTE AS AGAINST ENDLESS LEGAL SQABBLES.
IE Take political control of your LA through having Cllrs from your Union not necessarily your industry control them and your on the road to confronting the corruption from the Police and Licensing officers, and then the Barons and cartels have got some real problems coming their way, remember cllrs have little knowledge of the industry having them from within your Union ensures they will no longer be in that situation and always available for consultation [ie you give them their instructions
] our industrys have immense power which they lamentably fail to utilise, I have watched many times cllrs turn Grey at the thought of 20000 drunks being left in their town centres on a Friday and Saturday night free to trash the gaff, its easily arranged but rarely performed
The French example a 200 klm tailback
should stimulate all within the industry's to copy them and build their like here, its possible but extremely difficult, many examples are always present on here even
of the CRETINOUS attitude so prevalent amonsgt so many Wanna and Nidge along with Skippy being prime examples of unfortunately what we confront within our trade, their and their likes are why the trade is on its knees ffs
James Connolly.
the great are only great because you are on your knees "ARISE"[/quote]
The problem with the present structure of Political Parties, Unions and Associations is that it creates a political class, who, for the most part, operate independently of their members. It’s a bit like voting labour or SNP you end up with career politicians. Once they are voted in, it becomes an easy out from working at the coal face. This is why any organisation, which truly represents its members, should limit the time spent in office for any elected official. That way, you are constantly introducing new blood from the body of the Kirk to take the organisation forward and its members along with it.
The RMT, Unite and the GMB fail miserably. Once these guys are elected there is almost no chance of voting them out, without replacing them with more of the same. It then becomes about using their members to further their political careers and lining their own pockets in the process. Oh and blowing to their wives about how important they are.
Personally, TT, I wouldn’t look to the organisations you’ve mentioned for any real representation. It’s time for guys like you to do things differently, from how it’s been done in the past.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.[/quote]
Skull theres a lot to answer in that above, and clearly in my opinion and its just an opinion and most certainly not a personal attack, you have a somewhat cynical view on this issue and maybe a little experience which created that cynicism ??
Firstly the industry needs desperately a democratic powerful organisation to represent it, currently Cab Drivers Hack and Ph along with Chauffeurs EXCEPT IN LONDON [hacks in london being the exception] work the most hours for the least money of any industry! They also suffer appalling exploitation and incredible rates of violent attacks, something must be done for these workers who provide an absolutely VITAL transport service to the population. The question is WHAT?/and by who well to me it's bloody obvious they do it them selves through already established vehicles ie UNIONS
Well i believe that re-inventing the wheel is ridiculous the 3 Unions i suggested all have Rule Books that will allow bye laws to be established and operated within any Branch
that would address many of the issues you raised [terms of office for one ]
To me your repeating the mistakes of the past, workers organisations are there UNIONS, your task/Drivers task is to adapt their power and resources to the industry's needs the Unions have within them immense Political and financial resources, with careful planning they can be utilised for our industry's needs. Obviously this have never so far been achieved but in my opinion its clearly the most promising route, and yes of course i am biased i have had a Union card in my pocket for 52 years but in those years i have seen what can be achieved by Unionised workers and I can so clearly see an industry with incredible power as demonstrated by the French Drivers, but which seems unable to recognise the possibility's utilising that power and identifying what they could achieve.
I believe that taking Political control through your Union of the Licensing Authority through either Political influence Clrs being Union members not only of your Union but other Unions or where that is not possible ie Tory LibDem territory [ i have no knowledge of Scottish SNP domestic policies] through INDUSTRIAL ACTION as demonstrated by the French
is the route most likely to prove successful -------------i most definitely do not see the Courts and enriching BARRISTERS as a viable option, much better to write the legislation in my opinion
I note the initiator of this thread has not since contributed to the debate, i have many times attempted to get old CC to admit that Unions are the way forward but of course he is attached to a certain Association so maybe Skull some of your comments are biting home ??
Any way i welcome the debate and fully respect your views Skull but it looks like we will have to agree to disagree
As for Grandad well he appears to BE an anomaly to me many good pointss and some less so, but he contributes politely most of the time
and i reckon is an astute character pity he aint in london i might have been tempted to try out his company as a worker
NOTABLE BY THEIR ABSENCE THE RESIDENT SCABS WANNA NIDGE SKIPPY AND THE KING OF THE ONE LINERS SUSSEX..................
SOMEHOW MANAGED TO POST THIS TWICE STILL ITS A BRILLIANT READ ENJOY tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
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