Taxi Driver Online

Oh yeah, thats why when I got involved I was one of less than 20 members. Along with others we swelled membership to over 100. We inherited a committee but has anyone told you what the committee constituted of.

Our local union branch is ran as an association, the ONLY differance now is instead of being part of the NTA we are part of the T&G. I proposed this to the membership and they agreed unanamously.

The problem in Gateshead was down to the committee, it was not down to back biting we needed a new objective, we needed to break free of certain allegations made about the committee and the remarks that were made, without any justification, about their loyalty. GLTA did as much as it could and everyone concerned was highly focused on what they wanted to achieve.

GLTA achieved very little because the drivers didn't support it when it needed supporting and only turned to it when things went wrong.

You see ill-informed comments like that are what fuel suspision of drivers who listen to the bullshitters making unfounded allegations.

B. Lucky

So you change from the NTA to the T&G.

And exactly what have you got for that?

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IDFIMH

Fine words indeed.

Doesn't actually tell us anything or for that matter mean anything, but yes, written very nicely.

B. Lucky

A fare rise formula.
Access to all the bus lanes.
Re-restriction of numbers.
More advanced driver locality tests.
New ranks.
Safe vehicles.
Improved consultation.

Basically SM, everything you appear not to have in Eastbourne.

B. Lucky

Well I think it does.

He is saying that if you look hard enough, you can make many fares look cheaper, dearer, fatter, thinner, etc etc than your neighboring districts.

Councils the length of the country do it every time, to make each fare review look like we are being greedy so and so's.

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IDFIMH

so from costing members £20 per year and NTA membership, they are now charged a minimum of £8.00 per month (£96) per year. To be part of something you dont think can represent them nationally?

I knew a couple of people in the committee, but as you say you only ever get half of the story.

I know one thing for certain, and you should too, spending an evening a month at association meetings, doing minutes of meetings, attending council meetings, regional meetings, collecting subscriptions, attending local transport meetings to gain ranks locally, access into bus lanes etc, and all without being paid by the local association for it, takes commitment.

Committee's across the country get continually slagged by their membership, yet at the end of the day we all know the critisism is unfair. Because while committees are attending meetings members are working their cabs.

Regards

Captain Cab

Well we have six out of seven at the mo.

But I feel in my waters, that we are going for a full house.

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IDFIMH

all seven items you mention can be achieved locally through negotiation, you dont need either the T&G or NTA for this.

We used the NTA and got all seven, thanks to the late Mr Fawcett MBE, in the cab trade for over 50 years and died before he could collect his award.

regards

Captain Cab

Q. Why do HACK drivers have to be in an association.
Cant they speak up for themselves.i for one dont trust many in the trade.
If i were to join any group of people it would have to be a Trade Union,especially when associations have committee members that are being told what to say and do by the private hire boss they work for.
This practice has gone on for years and is still ongoing around the country.
Alas though no one seems to have been able to stop this situation unless they dissolve associations. Good luck to anyone who has the balls to speak up for themselves.

CHIP...

Chip,

No one has to be part of an association, our association certainly isnt run by someone who tells them what to do and how to vote.

Members come up with the ideas, the committee who are voted on by members annually try their best to get what the members want done.

Things like fare increases, access to bus lanes, new ranks etc are agreed by the local trade in one room and then the trade knows what its doing.

Money raising by the trade for charity and stuff is sorted out at the same meetings, this gives the trade a better public image than the one we tend to get.

No hidden agendas, just benefits everyone locally.

We choose to be affiliated nationally, to listen and talk with other places.

All very amicable

regards

Captain Cab

Captain Cab
Thanks for your reply but what happens when a majority of association members that are Hack drivers work for private hire offices and are led up the preverbial path by the committee they vote in,which are being told what to do by the boss man operator
TOTAL ANARCHY
CHIP ...

This is a common occurrence, and it's hard for drivers to do anything about. But not impossible.

Councils love dealing with just the operators, they can get away with murder, cos as long at it doesn't affect the ops, then it's not a problem for the ops.

For those with thick skins, you have to get together with some mates and start up an association, or join one of the nationals that's nearest to you views.

Make the council put you on any forum/committee, and make sure your views are heard.

Oh, and never ever, take no for an answer.

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IDFIMH

Chip,

I dont know about your area and if licenses are limited and what vehicle types are specified, so this may be of no use, what sussex suggests is right.

Most drivers where I come from work out of PH offices, but what difference does it make really. The PH office have to rent out radios and need work covered, so the HC drivers may have more power than they think, depends on their numbers.

Theyve even more power if they have WAV's, because many public service accounts stipulate that the firm should have some available.

Regards

Captain Cab

Chip,
no they cannot speak for themselves its inconvenient, bessides the 1000 cabbies all with a different view, in a room in front of a committee bamboosels them.

now chip please think.

sounds wonderfull
all aggreeing and all cushy