Taxi Driver Online

Crawley taxi drivers rally against Uber to survive

GATWICK taxi drivers are to protest against Uber claiming the app is causing them financial hardship.

Campaigners are calling for action over the amount of London-based Uber vehicles in and around Gatwick and Crawley.

They are holding a rally on Saturday, October 31, to call on Crawley Borough Council to step up the pressure on Transport for London and Uber, to limit the operations of London licensed vehicles in Sussex.

One taxi driver, Zak Ben said: "As taxi drivers we are embedded in the fabric of our communities.

"From business professionals to school mums, there isn’t anyone we don’t pick up and we know our town is struggling right now.

"We can’t afford to allow a multinational to take much needed business out of our local economy, it’s not on.”

Campaigners believe the silicon valley giant is causing hardship for local drivers whose livelihoods have already been hit by the Coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 800 local taxi drivers have signed a petition demanding action to rein in the activities of London based Uber vehicles.

On October 31, Uber is ceasing its operation from a designated waiting area within the Beehive lane industrial estate near Crawley.

There is now a great deal of uncertainty about where hundreds of Uber vehicles will move to.

Unite regional officer Jamie Major said it is wrong for a "a giant multinational with a controversial track record to damage local employment".

He explained: "Crawley's economic dependence on Gatwick airport means the town is being badly affected by the Coronavirus crisis.

"Local taxi and private hire drivers are launching a campaign to ensure Crawley Borough Council and other local councils pile the pressure on Transport for London and Uber to restrict London based Uber vehicles from picking up fares around Gatwick and Crawley.

"The drivers are calling for a fair and level playing field.

"It’s wrong for a giant multinational with a controversial track record to damage local employment. We urge the councils to take action to support the economy in and around Gatwick and Crawley."

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IDFIMH

Councillors limit Uber app but Gatwick Airport must do more to support local taxi drivers

Unite, Britain's leading union has welcomed an agreement reached between Crawley councillors and Uber to limit the operations of London licensed Uber vehicles operating in Sussex.

The union, local taxi drivers and campaigners are now calling on Crawley Borough Council to keep up the pressure on Uber’s activities at Gatwick Airport.

Following a campaign by local taxi drivers and a hugely successful rally on Saturday 31 October, Crawley Borough Council approached Uber and Transport for London to agree a 'geo-fence' covering areas outside Gatwick Airport to limit Uber's operations, and to support local taxi drivers who have been badly hit by the Coronavirus pandemic.

However, Gatwick Airport will continue to permit the Uber app to remain operational within the boundaries of the airport, charging London licensed Uber vehicles to use one of its long stay car parks. This decision will continue to deny local taxi drivers of much needed business in the middle of the Coronavirus crisis.

Unite, local taxi drivers and campaigners are calling on the council to keep the pressure on Gatwick Airport. The airport must demonstrate its commitment to the local economy and local employment by ending its agreement with Uber and to support hardworking, locally licensed taxi and private hire drivers.

Unite regional officer Jamie Major said: "It's good news to see Crawley's Labour councillors making progress on behalf of local taxi drivers but more needs to be done.

"We hope the council will keep the pressure on Gatwick Airport. Thousands of local jobs have been lost and the airport should be going the extra mile for the local economy. Crawley has been a major source of skilled employment for the airport over the years. Gatwick should be putting local taxi drivers first, not Uber. Crawley has been hit hard by the pandemic and whether you're a politician or an employer, the right thing to do is to support the community in these challenging times."

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IDFIMH

From what I can work out from the Unite press release above it seems that TfL Uber vehicles will only be able to log on within the border of Gatwick, and for that they will be charged a fee.

Outside of the border they won't be able to log on until they get back to the London zone that Uber devised a few years back.

Interesting.

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IDFIMH