Jim Kelly Misleads Cab Trade

The chairman of the Unite Cab Trade Committee, Jim Kelly has jumped on the band wagon in a mud slinging competition, started by the LTDA, aimed at discrediting the new formed RMT London Taxis Branch that has been so warmly welcomed by disgruntled members of other trade organisations.

As with the lies that we have seen published in the Taxi paper, Mr Kelly, whose membership is falling at an alarming rate, has gone over the RMT web site with a fine tooth comb, to try to find a controversial topic with which to embarrass members of the trades biggest growing union and stem the exodus from within his own ranks.

After weeks of burning the midnight oil, Mr Kelly has found a small paragraph that if read incorrectly, can have dual connotations over the true meaning of the passage.

The piece on the web site states.

"The RMT organises over 80,000 members across all sectors of the transport industry."

True, it does just that. This includes Licensed Taxi drivers,Bus drivers and believe it or not train drivers and shunters.

"In the Taxi and Private Hire vehicle trade, we have members across Britain including in Greater London, Leicester and Swansea."

If you read this sentence again you will see the author has called the trade we work in, as Licensed Taxi drivers, "The Taxi and Private Hire vehicle trade", a common mistake which we see in the press week after week, made by journalists lumping us all in the same trade as if we are one. A mistake that the former head of the PCO, Ed Thompson, made publicly on national TV, when he said "where I come from they're all Taxis, Private hire and black cabs".

Now what Mr Kelly has tried to do here, is insinuate that the RMT represents drivers who work solely in the Private hire trade, which it does not.

It was in a statement made to hundreds of working Taxi drivers at the Royal Oak Taxi Centre, that General Secretary Bob Crow said in his speech ;

"The RMT do not represent drivers who work solely as PHV drivers. If we are approached, we point them in the direction of the GMB and Unite".

Something that Jim Kelly has omitted to tell his readers is that Unite do represent PHV drivers all over the country.

However there is a grey area within the "Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Trade",

as some Hackney Carriage drivers, outside London,hold dual licenses and work as both Hackney Carriage and Private hire, mainly in small towns across the country, because in their town there is no radio circuit for Hackney Carriage drivers.

The London Taxi branch of the RMT has no intention, now or in the future, to work with or represent Private Hire drivers. We leave that to the dedicated Private Hire Unions such as the GMB.

We also have no business connection with the Private Hire industry, unlike the LTDA who have a 20% share in a certain Private Hire company.

Today, 23rd November 2009, every member of the RMT London Taxis Branch has received a letter from the General Secretary Bob Crow that states "The RMT do not have minicab drivers as members".

James Thomas.

Lead Officer, Ranks and Highways

RMT London Taxi Branch.

COME AND JOIN US!!....By Mark1967

This isn't a thinly disguised appeal for you to join the RMT. Hopefully the actions you read about on this site, both highly visible ie; protests and pickets outside the offices of Councils and Government departments and the not so visible ie; letter writing, email campaigns, and attending meetings will be all the recruiting tool we need.

No,this is an appeal to our fellow cab drivers.You may be a musher, you may rent, you may be radio, non radio, liveried or just a plain black coloured cab.

We NEED you!

For some time now there has been a campaign to take back the work that was going in the cars of touts. These touts would hang around outside busy venues harassing members of the public into getting in their "Taxi". Meanwhile you and me would be driving round and round in circles with our lights blazing, oblivious to the fact that our work was being hijacked before we could get a sniff.

The explosion of the disastrous and hopefully soon to be revoked "Satellite Office" experiment made things much much worse.

Fortunately drivers from many different backgrounds and trade organisations have had enough and have decided to strike back. Without going into excruciating detail the basic premise is...just be where the touts are, its as simple as that.
Drivers should form ranks with their lights blazing anywhere there are touts. Nobu, Jalouse, Tiger Tiger, Smiths, Zuma, Abacus and many more. The work coming out of these places is very good, both in volume and quality. Behind the scenes, there have been moves to get official ranks installed at many of these venues. Some of these have now opened and are running well.

However the touts are still sniffing round and having a field day, because too few drivers are "putting on" these ranks.

Please, please...when driving past these places, if you see 1 or 2 Cabs parked up with their lights on, join on the back of the rank. These ranks move very well.

I have seen the new Nobu rank empty as I pull away with a job and when I turn into Piccadilly there are 10 or 20 cabs following each other, lights a blazing??

Meanwhile the queue for Paddington is back to the Harrow Road??

The target we want to achieve is to see the new ranks getting a high level of service, then we can move on to the next target and start the ball rolling again. Places like the Oxo Tower, Buddha Bar, Hakkasan and Sophisticats, all need our attention. You dont have to drive round and round in circles, the work is out there.

Please help.

We hope shortly to post here a comprehensive list of all these ranks/venues together with their times of operation. If you need any more information please contact;
The Anderson Shelter at Downtheoak@aol.com.

Thanks

Mark Sherlock

Ranks and Highways

RMT London Taxi Branch

How Long are they going to let this go onAnon...by Thomas the Taxi.

If you work nights, you will have seen a line of cars, night after night, illegally parked outside the late night bar "onAnon".

Last night was no different.

As I approached the bar from Piccadilly Circus I saw the line of illegally parked PHV's right back from the entrance of the bar to the pedestrian crossing.
I stopped adjacent to the Mini cab rank and phoned Westminster Parking Services. After initially speaking to Anthony, I was immediately put through to the night call centre manager, Les Wilson, who listened to my complaint and assured me he would send round an officer (CEO) to deal with these cars.

As I sat there waiting to log how long this process actually takes from initial call to warden turning up on site, I saw something, like a dream, a blast from the past, I just couldn't believe my eyes.
Round the corner from the direction of Piccadilly Circus came a London Bobby, on the beat.
He went straight to the mini cab on the back of this rank and told him in a firm manner to "MOVE". As he went along the line, I got out of my Taxi and asked him if he had been sent by Westminster Parking Services, he replied that he had not and this was his beat so to speak.

I told him that I had informed WPS, as in my opinion, these cars illegally parking in front of a venue that holds a PCO license as a satellite office constitutes touting. His reply shocked me again as I was expecting the same old "they can wait to be hired", rubbish.

He said "No sir this does not constitute touting, it constitutes forming an unauthorised rank, contra to section 46 of the Hackney Carriage act of ........." his words were lost in a storm of abuse from the Private Hire drivers.

He then politely pointed out that I, was indeed double parked and asked me to move along, which I did.
Even as he was telling the drivers to move, other Private Hire Vehicles were stopping and "Putting on", replacing the touts that had moved. One driver refused to move as he "Worked for this club and had been told by Charing Cross Police station that he could legally rank here".

As I pulled away the officer was taking out his note book, but I didn't see what the final outcome was as I wanted to comply with the officers wishes.

30 minutes later.

I passed the venue again and it was smashed alive with touts clambering around the customers as they were leaving. I picked up a young girl who told me,

"Its a nightmare trying to get past those private taxis".

I asked her if she knew, because of the illegal manner in which the journey in one of these vehicles is undertaken, the insurance could be deemed as invalid?

She replied that the drivers of these vehicles tell the customers that Black taxis can't stop at this venue as the RANK is licensed to them and only they can pick up passengers at this bar.

Its Time that the PCO/TfL started to revoke the licenses of the venues that constantly break the conditions of that license. Places such as onAnon, Tiger Tiger, Swallow Street and Heddon Street have no legal parking outside, but still every night we see lines of unlawfully ranking mini cab touts.
Why were these licenses issued in the first place?
Surely the PCO has a duty of care to inspect these premises before a license is issued?
Most of these venues have no legal parking outside and yet TOCU, PCO enforcement and the local councils are just turning a blind eye.
What protection are they offering us for the money we pay for our license?

This situation is not going away. We must demand a judicial enquiry in to the PCO.
This is something we need to do now.

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277 rapes in London in October.

Question: "Why are the figures rising so fast" asks the Commissioner of Police.

Answer: because the Police, PCO/TfL and local councils are doing nothing about these illegal touts, most licensed by TfL, who pressure young females into riding in their mini cabs as they leave night clubs. These unlawful ranks have become a breeding ground for predators looking for women who may not be in full control of their own safety.

See article in the Evening Standard Click here

Also see the BBC article Click here

Continuing Saga of the Bush Rank.....by Thomas the Taxi.

We have today received a communication from Councillor Alex Chalk, about the Shepherds Bush Rank.

Thank you for your message. I have made some enquiries about this matter. This is the text of the response I received today from the relevant officer:

“The Taxi rank is being moved 5 metres westwards. This is because the current location is a safety hazard as it opens straight on to the pedestrian crossing. The public carriage office was consulted on and agreed the change.

The work started on Monday and will be finished and the rank reopened by the middle of next week. The rank will then be properly signed and enforceable, which it hasn't been up to now.”

I do hope this clarifies matters. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can assist further.

Best wishes,

Cllr Alex Chalk

Having spoken to Officers from Hammersmith Council I am amazed at their reasoning behind moving the rank. They have no records of any accidents involving Licensed Taxis at this location, but are basing their argument solely on the prediction of a computer model that says there might be an accident at this location some time in the future.

I would just add, I see no need to take any further action in this case.

The rank has been moved approx 15 feet and will be clearly marked out as a licensed Taxi rank (hopefully).

This is a result for the Anderson Shelter and the LTDF because the original plans were to move the rank 50 meters along the north side of the green.

Well done to all the drivers who have put themselves out to work this rank, just make sure you continue to give the public this first class service.

Source for article, Lee Cocklin, LTDF. Photo by Thomas the Taxi

Mini Cab driver charged over West End pedestrian death

A mini cab driver has been charged with manslaughter after a pedestrian was knocked over by a car in the West End of London.

Imran Raja, 37, was charged following an accident in Old Burlington Street, Mayfair, at 1942 GMT on Saturday.

Apparently mini cab driver Raja, hit the man and tried to drive off but was stopped by his passenger who called the emergency services. The victim, who is about 50 years old, has not yet been formally identified by police.

Mr Raja, who is being held in custody, is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Police were alerted by the ambulance service to the incident, involving a black Ford Galaxy, at the junction of Old Burlington Street and Clifford Street. The man was taken to University College Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Anyone who can help the police with their inquiries should contact the incident room, on 020 8358 0300.

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Plenty of passion left in the trade,

even from the twilight brigade,

(of which I happen to be one).

Warning Strong language.

Westminster's Disappearing Ranks episode No1......By Thomas the Taxi

Langan's Brasserie

Every week more and more of our ranks are disappearing. Although Westminster City Council has just marked out four new ranks, three have proved to be completely unacceptable or unworkable.

• Who are these faceless people who manage to make such horrendous mistakes when it comes to the Licensed Taxi trade?
• Surely the joint ranks committee were shown the plans for these new ranks?
• Why weren't these issues sorted out at their meetings with Westminster planners?

It's so easy to get it right, you only have to look at the fabulous new rank outside Nobu. This rank has become very popular and is serviced well, although some nights the touts need a little push to move them on.

But believe it or not the initial site for this rank was fifty yards south of the exit towards Piccadilly with the cabs facing away from the club/restaurant similar to the situation in Cornhill close to the night club Abacus. Only after complaints from within the trade, has the Nobu rank been re-sited.

Of the other three new ranks, two are sited past the exit of the venue leaving customers to walk a gauntlet of touts to get to a Licensed Taxi. The new rank outside the entrance to Jalouse, although sited well, embarrassingly finishes 2 hours before the club turns out.

What are our Joint Ranks Committee members doing, other than falling over themselves to claim the kudos in their respective trade papers.

A Joint Ranks Committee should be made up of a mixture of day men and night men to ensure that every Taxi drivers needs are looked after properly.

Christmas Party Season

We are just about to enter the Christmas party season. It was about this time last year we saw Westminster install the infamous private hire rank at Whitcomb Street. After the bad press of last year and subsequent folding of the booking kiosk in Leicester Square, they have covertly installed standing areas under the title of "Loading Bays". Off road loading bays have been installed all over the heart of the West End. At night lines of Private hire vehicles can be seen using these bays as ranks while Westminster Parking Services Traffic Wardens (CEO's) just walk by, obviously having been told to leave these vehicles alone.

Westminster Parking Services have also made it clear they do not intend enforcing parking restrictions that should keep Licensed Taxi ranks clear of touts. The TOCU squad who should be doing this on a regular basis, only seem interested in black cab drivers badges and bills.

This situation has to be addressed now. If you are in an Association, Club or Union, contact your reps now and find out exactly what they are doing to combat this onslaught from the Private Hire Touts.

What's been happening in W12 click here for full story