Taxi Driver Online

I'm a Private Hire Driver in Cheshire in the North West..

There is no Private Hire Association in my area and the operators ride roughshod over the drivers.
I would be interested in suggestions on how to start an association. The attitude of a number of the operators is..'if you don't like it bring your radio in and go elsewhere'
The operators are not approachable when it comes to the rights of the drivers.

Given that the self employed have little or no rights what can the drivers do..

If you enter into a contract with an operator then before you start work the terms of contract and operation should be made clear and agreed upon.

You have the option of obtaining your own operators license which allows you to work for yourself. Alternately if you wish, a group of drivers including yourself could start their own private hire firm.

Being a private hire driver does have its drawbacks but in 28% of licensing authorities in England and Wales you will have no option but to drive a private hire vehicle because of quantity controls on hackney carriages.

I think Tom Thumb will be able to put forward a forceful argument in respect of the operators position towards drivers and Sussex will no doubt advise you of the drivers position.

You can set up your own local organisation or you can set up a local GMB Branch, which probably does a better job than most other organisations in representing drivers concerns. Mr Sussex and Mr Brighton Breezy may be able to advise you on that score. However before you join any organisation you should contemplate two things. First the organisation must be the right vehicle for your local aspirations and second you should not forget that organisations demand commitment to pay subscriptions. If you just want an informal organisation with no subscriptions then that can also be achieved.

Regards

JD

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Hi mate,

Your not the only one who feels this way. Operators in some parts of the country seem to think they own their drivers, although we are all mostly self employed. The self employed part is probably there to avoid any duty or responsibility on the part of the operators anyway.

As for associations, well thats another matter, but to me they are all the same.

Thanks for taking the time to reply Guys...
Many taxi operators don't as you say grasp the reality that you are self employed and that you pay them to give you work, which in a way means they work for you....
I'm sure if they get wind that drivers want to set up an association to protect their interests, they would swiftly dispense with them, after all an association would be seen as a hindrance to them getting their way and forcing their rules on the fleet..
Another factor is it's hard to get drivers to stick together...

I would contact your council and get yourself (and your mates) recognised as part of the trade.

I suspect the council might warm to you and your colleagues, as it will be refreshing for them to get the views of the real trade i.e. drivers, as opposed to those who like to think they are i.e. the bosses/operators.

I would also send Mr Brighton Breezy a PM, as he might be able to help you out.

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IDFIMH

Don’t know what its like in your area but in London operators are ten a penny and drivers are in short supply but for some reason the drivers seem to accept any crap that the operators throw at them, I have never understood why.

When I was driving PH the company tried to get me to do an airport job, 50 miles for £40, when I said no way they started to give it the bring your radio in line, I called their bluff and they backed down, I was paying them £150 a week, that meant that I called the shots. I never did any airport jobs and turned up for my shifts when I was good and ready.

Now I’m a hack, I use a radio operator, ComCab and they do have the right attitude, in fact my only criticism of them is that they actually insist on LTDA membership.

Never forget it is the drivers that employ the operators and not the other way around.

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

The hardest thing is getting enough drivers to stick together..

Most of us are out to earn a crust and the operators have the upper hand to the point they treat some of the drivers with contempt...strangely they were drivers themselves and have forgotten....

taxi associations are by their nature open to all and are usually run by the proprietors of the taxi firms largely because the drivers tend to be apathetic and the proprietors are the best people to deal with councils and other officials.

If you are serious about starting one then the best way forward and the way most things start is to organise a meeting and invite drivers to this meeting. you will need to have a theme for the meeting though usually a particular issue which is annoying drivers in your locality
and see what develops from that

Alternatively if you don't mind being represented by someone with their own agenda (and lots of daft ideas) join a trade union

Mr edders23,

You know as well as I do that drivers in their own area have their own agendas and submit them to the people concerned.

I had you down as a bit smarter that some of the Mups on here.

Regards
BB

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

An association run by 'proprietors of taxi companies' you're having a laugh..
They are the ones who say 'if you don't like it bring your set in' is that one of the perks of being an operator?

Here's another famous one if they recover a job or decline a job, if they haven't got an acceptable reason...switch them off and send them home, this includes declining a job that has been priced below the going rate and is subject to a percentage deduction for so called admin costs...

I'm in the dark as far as 'own agendas' goes....

Georgie123,
I have sent you a pm.
Regards
BB

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Well you have got your own agenda, but that's not a bad thing.

Your own agenda is to earn a reasonable wage, to keep safe, and to not be f***ed about by operators or the council.

That's why your local trade need to get organized for. It can be done.

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IDFIMH

Aye, everyone else is wrong apart from you and Terry.

Ever thought the outdated approach of the GMB are the odd ones out? That's socialism for you, everyones wrong, we're always right. If you disagree. your a racist, philastine, ................. etc

That's why Unionism shrinks every year.

25 years, you can be a warder at the Museum of Unionism.

Now Mr GBC,

The GMB PDB is an organisation answerable to its membership. It is, it's membership that dictates policy to its officers. It is a vessal that drivers can use to access their L/O's, Councillors, MP's and Ministers, far easier and with more effect that being an individual or part of a local association due to the influence the GMB has with many Councillors and MP's.

As far as I am concerned the GMB PDB is here to help as many drivers as possible, regardless of being H/C or P/H. Hopefully if drivers nationally can organise themselves they will be able to improve their working conditions and have more say in their trade.

The recent example in Somerset of a L/A introducing proposed new licencing conditions without consultation or input from the local trade was disgusting. The GMB PDB would help drivers in such area's organise, and insist on proper consultation for the benifit of the local drivers.

I don't think I have ever called anyone a racist or a philastine for not wanting to be a trade union member. Each individual has a choice, I just think I have made the correct one.

Regards
BB

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

I never claimed you did Mr BB, unfortunately your London mouthpieces do on a regular basis.

Socialism forms the very basis of Unionism, and that's why it's a shrinking movement.
One day society will build a statue to Rupert Murdoch.