Taxi Driver Online

and if they've got 325 members - I bet they aint paying £36.50p membership per year - let alone £20 per plate.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Wonder if Sir Peter is aware of the case of a Mayor from Watford?

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The problem is this union has the train folks by the balls, hence the way they think what they say goes.

Now I'm not sure the Mayor's behaviour is good, but clearly he doesn't own a train firm, hence he treats them with the contempt those train firms could only wish they could.

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IDFIMH

But if he does what he is threatening to do, via the proper consultative process, then he can get his way.

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IDFIMH

I bet they're paying more than us and being ill advised at that.

Mayor to remove taxi ranks outside Leicester railway station as RMT dispute 'steps up'


Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby is to remove taxi ranks outside the railway station as union bosses have warned they will "step up" their protests in the on-running battle over a new cabbies' misconduct scheme.

The city council and the RMT union, representing 325 city hackney drivers, have been locked in a dispute for weeks.

It has seen cabbies carry out three rush hour go-slow convoy protests around the city causing widespread disruption and congestion.

Sir Peter warned the protesting hackney cab drivers he would strip them of privileges and end "special considerations" granted to the trade if they persisted with the actions

Now Sir Peter told the Mercury he will remove the experimental ranks near the station - one of the busiest areas for trade for the hackney cabs.

Two cab spaces on Slate Street and part of one rank, with two spaces, on Conduit Street will be removed.

The council needs to give seven days notice before it can start work but will then reinstate the previous double yellows on Conduit Street and single yellows on Slate Street.

Sir Peter said: "The drivers have no particular right to taxi ranks. We grant them as a privilege."

The mayor said he would pause any action on tightening restrictions on the age taxis need to be withdrawn from service and ending the "artificial" cap on the number of drivers' licences granted.

RMT regional organiser Ken Usher said: "So the mayor wants to widen this dispute to affect the travelling public and visitors to the city (by removing ranks outside the station)

"Our beef is not with the citizens of Leicester but the mayor wants to spread this out."

Mr Usher said the union could "step up" its campaign.

He said: "We could hold a protest every day."

He also said the RMT could ask other unions, through the Trade Unions Council, to disrupt council services by raising their own grievances in a co-ordinated way.

He said: "There are unions which have issues with the council - entirely separate to this - which are on the back burner but they could turn the gas up on them"

Mr Usher said RMT also had contacts in the higher echelons of the Labour Party who could bring pressure to bear on the mayor.

He said he would discuss with local RMT members any further action in terms of protests.

On RMT member told the Mercury this could include protests in the morning to affect the school run and a static demonstration outside City Hall.

Mr Usher said further disruption could be avoided if the mayor agreed to negotiate over the disciplinary scheme, in force since December 1, but he said Sir Peter was being obstinate.

He said: "I will meet him any place, anywhere and any time.

"We could go for a cup of tea and get this sorted.

"We don't want to be treated like scolded children."

Sir Peter said: "There will be no negotiations over what is a perfectly reasonable and fair scheme.

"What part of "No Chance" does he not understand?

"I would be very surprised if anyone at the TUC has any sympathy with the taxi drivers.

"I would be equally surprised if anybody high up in Labour Party would have any sympathy.

"The idea they could go and find some else's shoulder to cry on there is strange."


Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Mayor ... z3trDXdlPk

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This is getting quite interesting

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It may be an oportune moment to get myself a private hire office in the city.

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Grandad,

You have to love dictatorships

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

so the protests are having no influence and now they are losing a taxi rank at what point will these idiots realise they need to change tactics and find a way to really get some leverage by getting the media on their side.

The biggest problem is of course that most councils up and down the uk already have this points system leicester is a relative latecomer so the best they can hope for is a few amendments

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Has Sir Peter Soulsby handled taxi drivers' protests well?


The Leicester Mercury has received the following letters on Sir Peter Soulsby's handling of the taxi drivers' protests. Do you think he has handled the situation well?

Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below.


Cabbies fast losing friends

For once I feel I have to applaud Sir Peter Soulsby for his stance against these taxi drivers.

Who do they think they are, holding up innocent people trying to get home to families after a day at work, and what about those who use a taxi to get them home? I hope they will take their trade elsewhere after the past few weeks.

I haven't got one of these cabs for a few years now as I feel they are a rip-off with the amount they put on the meter before they've even moved.

Is this why they are able to take two hours out of their day at what must be their busiest time to do a go-slow? They clearly don't need the money.

I think its disgusting they think they can dictate their demands and expect people to listen.

After the way they have behaved in recent weeks they are fast losing a lot people's respect and custom.

If you don't break the rules you have nothing to worry about with the points system. It is there to protect the public.

If you don't like it then hang up your keys and get another job.

Name and address supplied.


A dictatorship

I agree with the taxi driver who called Peter Soulsby a dictator.

That is exactly what he is, a dictator and a bully.

How many people lost their jobs when he became mayor, to be replaced by his acolytes?

Mrs L Bullock, Leicester.


Dangers in getting rid of taxi ranks

I am surprised to read (Mercury, December 10) that Sir Peter Soulsby calls the cab ranks (in Conduit Street, just outside London Road railway station) "privileges" for the cab drivers.

I would have thought they were there for the public's convenience, especially those who travel to and from Leicester by rail.

I am all for keeping reliable cabs, but when I read that as part of the new disciplinary scheme a cab can have three points added for parking in loading bays, even in the hours that they are not being used, I think it is going a bit far.

As the mayor says, this is one of the busiest areas for trade for the cabs.

Does he not think that by finishing the cab ranks, he will be turning people away from Leicester when they find they cannot get a cab to or from the station?

Barry Fern, Whitwick.


Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Sir-P ... z3uNsK5uL9

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

More taxi protests loom on Tuesday and Thursday as dispute between RMT and Leicester mayor grinds on



Taxi drivers are to protest outside Sir Peter Soulsby's office today in the latest episode of an on-running dispute between Leicester's mayor and the city's cabbies.

Around 100 drivers are expected to protest on foot, from midday to 1pm, outside the council's City Hall headquarters in Charles Street.

The RMT union, representing some 325 hackney cabbies in the city, have been leading protests about a new penalty points disciplinary regime the council has imposed on drivers.

So far the union's anger and dissatisfaction has manifested itself as a series of go-slow convoy drives around the city centre during the evening rush hours.

Those actions have caused considerable congestion and traffic disruption in the city but have not achieved their aim of forcing Sir Peter back to the negotiating table over the scheme.

The protests have upset members of the travelling public but while the union has laid the blame for that at Sir Peter's door a number of customers have contacted the Mercury suggesting a boycott of black cabs until the RMT stops protesting.

If the static protest does not lead to further talks another go-slow is planned at 4pm on Thursday.

The procession will start at the Mayfield Road roundabout in London Road heading into the city centre and past the railway station onto St George's Way. It will pass along St Mathew's Way and Burleys Way before entering Abbey Street. It will then proceed along Charles Street, Rutland Street and Belvoir Street. It will then turn onto Welford Road, Mill Street, Duke Street, Regent Road, and Granville Road before rejoining London Road heading south. The cabs will disperse near Leicester Racecourse.

Sir Peter said: "I don't know what it is that they can't get their head around because when I say there will be no negotiation I mean there will be no negotiation.

"The cab drivers are simply being a pain in the neck."

Sir Peter has already decided to remove temporary traffic ranks from streets near the station and may yet revoke other privileges he says the drivers enjoy at discretion of the council.

This includes a relaxed view of the age at which older taxis have to be removed from service and a cap on the number of licences granted to new drivers.

RMT regional organiser Ken Usher said Sir Peter was acting autocratically and beyond his authority.

A Labour city councillor, who did not wish to be named, echoed that.

He said: "There is a view that Peter has acted ultra vires by taking those ranks away.

"If you are going to amend traffic regulation orders it has to be for traffic reasons.

"You cannot do it as a punitive measure. He may be right overall but he's acted in correctly."


Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/taxi- ... z3uNtroLHZ

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I'm sorry but councillors were not, or are not, voted in to not be named.

If you haven't got the neck to front up, then stand down and let someone else do it.

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IDFIMH

The Mayor is Labour and all but 2 Councillors are also Labour. There may be another reason that the Councillor does not want to be named and that could be that he is connected to the trade and as such is not permitted to say or do anything directly because he has a pecuniary financial interest.

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Grandad,

They can say anything, and are voted in to say anything.

If they are on a committee then they can say that and excuse themselves.

If they are not permitted to say something, either by statute or by local rules, and they do, then they are either morally or legally corrupt.

I think that Councillor is a coward, and in that case should stay quiet or quit.

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IDFIMH