Taxi Driver Online

Wolverhampton minicab drivers protest over wages U-turn amid fears they'll be left out of pocket

Minicab drivers in Wolverhampton launched a protest after the company they work for backed out of a deal they believe would increase their wages.

A protest of around 50 drivers took place outside the Go Carz offices after they found out the company would not be agreeing to a deal brokered in January to raise the minimum fare for any journey from £2.80 to £3.50. This was agreed between the drivers, fellow minicab firm ABC Cars and Wolverhampton council officials.

However, Go Carz is said to have backed out of the plan at the "last minute" and is reconsidering its position. Drivers say this has left them out of pocket, saying it means they will only be paid £4 a hour for their work which often sees them driving all week, including weekends.

Syed Raza, a driver for the firm, said: "We don't have any family time, we are always in the car. The company don't care about us at all. They're just concerned with making profit and exploiting us."

But Carl Wilday, managing director of Go Carz, said the price rise could have led to a drop in earnings, not a rise.

“Our main priority has always been our customers, but we are also focused on our drivers’ earnings. Our view is that the price rise they are proposing would would lead to a drop in customers which would actually lead to an overall reduction in their earnings rather than increasing them," he said. "We give drivers an excellent opportunity to earn a good wage while offering our customers good value for money.

“Having said that, our drivers are very important to us so we are still considering the fare structure to ensure it works for everyone."

Sonny Dhillon, of Wolverhampton Private Hire Taxi Association, said: "The fact of the matter is Go Carz are playing about with people's lives. Since their presence in Wolverhampton, they have increased the number of drivers by 30, 35 per cent in the last five years.

"They've taken those drivers on even though there's not enough work to sustain them and now the drivers are fed up. They've been led up the garden path, false promises have been made to them.

"Now Go Carz have made their position clear, they are not concerned about what their drivers earn."

City minicab drivers submitted a petition containing 400 signatures to the council urging all parties to secure the deal.

In a letter to the council, Go Carz drivers Raheel Shah and Syed Raza, said: "Drivers have to work longer hours to maintain their minimum earning. This situation creates more frustration among all drivers and quality of service is deteriorating day by day."

The deal is still on the table, but cannot be implemented until all parties agree. Until the situation is resolved, the drivers are planning further protests.

source: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2016 ... of-pocket/

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

I cant be alone in thinking they're all idiots

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

Thought a Council could not be instrumental in fixing private hire fares.Officers have clearly acted outside their jurisdiction if this report is correct and should be investigated by OFT. for price fixing.

You are not alone.

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Grandad,

You can't fix stupid.

At least they are earning £4 an hour I think it was in Accrington a year or two ago that the drivers went on strike claiming they were earning 60p an hour and of course then there are the dairy farmers who can earn as little as 30p an hour

The balance between consumer rights/ fair deal and what is reasonable to charge is too far heavily skewed in favour of the consumer. I personally think the government has to seriously look at wages of the self employed as well as trying to get all employed people onto the "living wage"

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

If the other company is willing to raise fares what's needed is for a sizeable amount of the drivers to go over to them if they stick together the drivers have a lot of power.

Of course Midlife Go Carz are extremely vulnerable given the Drivers stick together

Then of course theres Working Time Directive it looks like many drivers are NOT having adequate rest with the acquiescence of Go Carz management which renders them " not fit and proper" ie Their putting the public into cars being driven by sleep deprived Drivers

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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

I didn't know self-employed people came under the WTD, minimum wage or anything else. Being self-employed they can always take their labour elsewhere. If they Are employed by some miracle, then GoCarz can be in the deep poo.

As you know Roy any company giving work to Drivers that are sleep deprived are themselves liable to prosecution, which was my point earlier their not "fit and proper"!

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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

Why are they driving cabs when they can go and do ANY other job for a guaranteed at least £6.70 per hour (plus other perks) ?

I predict once the minimum/living wage hits £9 ph in a few years there will be hardly any taxi drivers unless the fares rise dramatically or they are in an area where they can average a take of £700+ per week, just to make minimum wage.

Min wage £9 x 40 hours = £350
Taxi rent (£200), fuel (£100), insurance (£50), miscellaneous costs (??) = £350+.

Add on the minimum wage = £700, divide by 40 for the standard working week and you need to average a take of £17.50 every hour you drive to achieve minimum wage.

Has anyone mentioned 'illegal cartel' to these buffoons?

One thing doing it, but for f*** sake don't publicise it.

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IDFIMH

NOT THAT BP SHELL OR ANYONE ELSE GET INTO THAT LITTLE MALARKY .......................OR THE BANKS

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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

or the supermarkets "pricematching"

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

That's different.

If the big supermarkets sat around in the local pub fixing prices then that would also be illegal.

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IDFIMH