Taxi Driver Online

Mayor brands RMT public meeting a 'silly stunt' as Leicester taxi dispute flares up again


The row between Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby and the RMT union over the city's taxis has re-ignited after a lull over Christmas and the New Year.

The union and the mayor have been at odds for months over a new misconduct penalty points licensing scheme he has introduced for cabbies.

The dispute has seen some of Leicester hackney cab drivers take to the streets in a series of go-slow rush hour processions to disrupt traffic.

The union is planning a public meeting and, although it has yet to finalise the time and venue, it has invited Sir Peter to attend.

He has declined describing the meeting as "a silly stunt".

Sir Peter said: "I have been very clear with the RMT that I would have no private negotiations with them. It's then difficult to understand why they think I will have some sort of public discussions with them on this.

"The calling of this meeting is just a very silly stunt."

The RMT suspended any further go-slow protests over the festive period but have warned there could be further action and stressed they would not stop until the mayor agreed to talks over the new disciplinary regime.

Sir Peter said: "I have heard nothing at all about any more protests since before Christmas.

"In the past they have shown themselves to be totally irresponsible."

Leicestershire and Rutland RMT secretary Umar Khan said he was disappointed Sir Peter would not attend the public meeting.

He said: "We invited him, as the democratically elected mayor, because we want to find a solution to this situation.

"We cannot force him to come though.

"It's disappointing he won't talk to us."

Mr Khan said there would be no more go-slow protests until after the public meeting which may be in early February.

He said the union "a different strategy" in its campaign.

The disputed scheme came into force at the beginning of December with a schedule of points linked to various infractions.

It works like driving licence penalties with any cabby accumulating 12 points being brought before a committee of councillors for punishments ranging from an official warning to having their badge revoked.

The union says it was not properly consulted on the scheme which, they say, puts their members livelihoods at risk over minor issues.


Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Mayor ... z3xEwmg2P6

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

The simple answer is to drive safely and look after your vehicle, then you don't get penalised.

Or someone appeals the new licensing conditions on their license to the Mags Court.

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IDFIMH

the simple answer is for the council to do their jobs properly.

If they cannot afford licing meetings, as these points systems suggest, because they are a lazy was of running a regime, then they should say so.

As for soulsby, I really hope that c*nt gets run over by a moving combine harvester, the c*nt.

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

Not likely to happen though, he has banned them from the roads until August.

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Grandad,

shame, I had a vision of a gory death I once saw on the horror channel

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

I like Sir Peter Soulsby

Would you like him as your Mayor?

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Grandad,

Do the Drivers in Leicester think the Mayor is a "Silly Stunt"?

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

I would yes. I have nothing to hide if he decided to implement a points system round here, anything to make the trade better is a good thing.

They obviously have problems with the Taxi Trade in Leicester for them to implement a points system for drivers.

There's an old saying, "if you've got nothing to hide there's nothing to worry about."

Points systems are not there to make the trade better though. Sir Peter Soulsby is upsetting a lot more than taxi drivers. Do you have any "shared lanes" or bike only lanes in your area yet? They are trying them out in Leicester and they are not very popular.

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Grandad,

Like I said, they must be having trouble with the trade in Leicester for example, bad driving, over charging, sexual assaults the list can go on and on.

There's a points system in operation in Mansfield, it's been going for a number of years and it's turned the trade around.

If you've nothing to hide there's nothing to fear.

We are having our policy updated at the moment. It is going to be compulsory for drivers to attend a sexual exploitation awareness course. So by your way of thinking there must be a problem with sexual exploitation involving the taxi trade in our town.

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Grandad,

There speaks a man with no experience of points systems they work by punishing the honest whilst the dishonest don't get caught because there is no one out there looking for misdemeanors. It is a way of making the lazy look good

If you are still unclear I would refer you to CC's diatribe in PHTM

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

I've worked under a points system thank you.