Taxi Driver Online

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..................

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Trotsky writes:



These organisations you mention, while set up to represent their workers, more often than not, act as a vehicle for people looking to further their political careers or at the very least, to line their own pockets. I did point out the following in my previous post: 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 rule books means nothing, if the structure of your organisation puts the interests of its elected officials before that of its members, which it clearly does. What you end up with is a bunch of Uncle Toms, who are all too keen to appease those in authority in a bid to maintain and further their positions within their organisations. Without a limited term in office, these elected officials become the problem, as do their replacements, if they are eventually voted in.

You said it, “3 Unions” !!



Yes, if you could get the management to agree to fixed terms in office, then the power might shift back to the workers and union representation might become more effective, something along the lines of what’s happening in France, but you won’t achieve that with the Uncle Toms "representing" you at present.

Trotsky, the Unions in their existing form are the problem, and not the solution.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Oh and Trotsky, the Unions are so effective that they've had their balls cut off. They are almost useless. I am not saying that in some instances, having some kind of representation is better than nothing but for the most part, the militant, fighting disposition of the Union is long gone, and now they are structured for the self-seeking and careers orientated. It's a job.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

united we stand divided we fall. LA for years have relied on the fact that the taxi trade wont/cant stand together and used that for there benefit. Take notice of what skull and trotsky are saying and get organised and with that well all have power to choose our own working condition

Even if we could all agree, in principle, there is a much greater problem, your average worker's willingness to conform to authority.

Your brothers in arms identify with the authority and see their vicious acts as being virtuous, they then side with those who would enslave them.

In short, they become followers or mindless units of production, programed to defend their lives of bondage to the system.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Look what happened to the Miners, right or wrong, regardless of the politics of the situation, had they stood together they would have brought down the Government. Instead, they pis*ed all their power away.

Oh and spare me the political theories of how it all went wrong. The truth is, it should have been, one out all out. Irrespective of the political views at the time, together they had something to win but divided they had everything to lose, and that's exactly what happened...

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

But they did have a leader who in later years tried to benefit from Thatcher's 'right to buy' policies.

_________________
IDFIMH

And ... your point?

Are you identifying with the authority at the time and seeing their vicious acts as virtuous?

Thatcher's right to buy policy was designed to turn everyone into little capitalists, which some would argue, is the very reason guys like yourself became impotent when dealing with authority. There is no band of brothers to speak of anymore. Her plan was to rip the heart out of every community in the country, in order to have the working man exactly where he is now.

However, you see this as the fault of someone, who in later years, tried to benefit from Thatcher's right to buy scheme.

Sussex, had the working man stuck together, there would be no right to buy, and you might not be a lowly cabni gger.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

_________________

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

Theres some truth in that but of course, the problem is HOW DOES THE CAB INDUSTRY GET OFF ITS KNEES??

My solution i have outlined Unions are a vehicle which can be adapted for our industrys use. That of course wont happen overnight the GMB and Unite are general Unions they welcome most industrys into their membership the RMT of course concentrates on Transport and maybe would be the best option/

you Skull suggest starting from scratch and setting up associations. well the best of luck with that I believe it would take many years for that association to get where the Unions are now!

You mentioned the Miners dispute and stated that had they stuck together they would have won ..........indeed they would have BUT unfortunately the likes of wanna nidge and skippy prostituted themselves on the altar of greed and now are doing the same to our industrys .................nice people ehhhhhhhhhhh??

To sum up with the will and commitment of workers in the industry i believe organisation ie effective organisation is possible the power the workers have is vastly underestimated ..............the French have demonstrated that ................high time it happend here ...............we disagree on the appropriate route but so what to me recognising the necessity is a considerable advance from the normal reality of the dick heads on here

Unfortunately we are 400 miles apart so no chance of a face to face and a gargle .................

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Oh so accurate ....but sadly not recognised by so many ...................stil in my opinion its never too late to get STUCK IN TO THE TORY VERMIN

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Here’s the thing Trotsky, the aforementioned unions are, for the most part, dysfunctional. They are seriously diminished in strength, quality of leadership and unity. And the reason for this is that they are led by a bunch of Uncle Toms, who, for their own ends have usurped the power of the organisation. These people are not about to propose fixed terms in office for elected officials. So be aware, your allegiance to these organisations merely serves to keep the chosen few away from the coal face and on well-paid career paths. That’s where your support and membership fees go.

Oh and I am not about to attempt to start up a new organisation for the sheeple. However, if you continue to lend your support to these organisations, I suggest your either vote to change their structure from the inside with the support of its members or just accept that the representation you have at present, is all that you deserve, and it is not going to change anytime soon.

Aye a gargle would be nice

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Trotsky, tell me where I have it wrong?

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Thats only a matter of opinion ..............mine is that to influence any organisation in your interests ie Political Party / Union you have to be in it, i am in A union and a member of the Labour Party .............and yes i have watched and fought within the Labour Party for Democratic Socialism .............i am also a member of the Labour representation Ctte .............a group within the Party whose policies i mainly support..................perhaps you could access their web site for more specific details?

As for Unions well theres a massive bundle going in within one at the moment.................i can say little more but press coverage could soon be out there.

I agree that there has emerged a POLITICAL CLASS mainly of the parasite variety ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Blair...Brown............Darling.............Straw.........Cameron .........Osborne...............Clegg............Maple ad infinitum who are only successful because the likes of you CC, Gus, Cab John are not present to STOP them, continue that absence and they continue to be successful.

I see no requirement to establish new Political Party's i just want to take back control of my Party ..................The same applies to Unions .........their mine i [we] will control them not the parasites you and cab John so correctly critisize.....................who only flourish because of your and your likes absence.

Thats it the philosophy of old TT

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

You make some good points - having said, that the Government & The Trade Union hierarchy are so corrupt that you/I have to start all over again to make a change as it is not going to come from within en bloc! For example, you have in the past mentioned that there should be "Civil Disobedience" - on that I do not have a problem! It could take place in numerous different forms and dare I say.......legally.

1. Totally refraining from voting at elections - they are already worried and are wanting to give voting powers to 16 year olds & talking about jail birds also getting the vote. You have to agree that there has to be some worry in a "Constitutional Manner" for them to be even thinking this.

2. All Union members to resign their memberships!!!!! That would really screw the guy at the top - he would be out in no time.........enter fresh blood.

3. The population between the hours of 7.00 a.m. & 9.00 a.m. to take a stroll around the City centre roads (zebra crossings just to make it legal) - the effect of that traffic jamming would be colossal on big business, and if big business starts losing money - then those at the top will cop it. Imagine such an action stopping/restricting "The Stock Market" from opening

It is such a simple philosophy - If you affect their wealth on a regular basis.......you will get results, as it is all about their wealth............the rest of us can go to hell.

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.