We ask TfL the following:
1. What purpose does it serve?
Surely all anyone needs to know is if the badge number or cab plate is valid. Why does anyone need our name?
2. TfL state that 'Private Hire has had this facility for sometime now, with no problem'.
Well not quite accurate, all an enquirer can find out is the name of the operator.
3. How much is this costing and who was consulted?
We require to see any minutes, so the cab trade can note who agreed to this.
4. Concerning the identifiers about to be imposed, again how much did this cost?
Who agreed it?
5. If an identifier is lost or stolen, can a driver continue to work and will it necessitate a new bill and badge?
6. If as stated by TfL the identifiers are just to aid their enforcement staff rather than cause issues between cab drivers then just a small barcode label would have sufficed. Was this an option considered and again who was consulted and who agreed it?
The RMT are taking legal opinion on the Data Protection aspects of this and will also be raising the issue of wasting licensees and tax payer's money with TfL, the Mayor, Audit authorities and the GLA. We will also be exposing who agreed to what, without asking YOU the working cab driver. You have an absolute right to know what has been agreed in your name.
The RMT will defend its members and the whole cab trade without fear or favour.
Once again the Cab Trade has yet another requirement to needlessly follow whilst touting by PH and non PH vehicles carries on with minimal effective enforcement.
Director of LTPH John Mason, has replied in part with regards to question 5:
I do not know where these ridiculous rumours come from but they never help and we have never stated this would be the case.
We would, of course, not stop anyone working as a result of such instances. We will, however, insist on immediate reporting to us of such (along with crime reference numbers if reporting as stolen) and we expect taxi drivers to treat the identifiers with the same level of respect and importance as their own badge.
Clearly anyone who continually "loses" their identifiers would need to be warned to be more careful and could be subject to action if this was more deliberate rather than accidental.
All will become clearer when drivers get the identifiers and the guidance notes and we will issue some more notices as well.
I hope this answers your question and allays your members concerns.
John Mason
Director - Taxi & Private Hire
4th Floor Yellow
Palestra
197 Blackfriars Road. London. SE1 8NJ
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
Still not clear if a driver will have to be issued with a brand new badge number!
So far, in our opinion, this new ID requirement is far from ready to implement.
Source; RMT London Taxi Blog http://t.co/SOvYLj0
Why is TfL obsessed with this trivia?
ReplyDeleteMoney to burn?
OR
The PH/Non PH touting epidemic is a monster out of control and therefore TfL focus on 'small beer' issues to give the illusion of action.
Please Mr Mason, remember your not talking to Grant Davis (the unelected one) & co. all the time, don't condescend to us, we have the IQ to see it as it is!
Make a New Year Resolution: Deal with serious people in 2012 and come up with some serious proposals to ENFORCE THE LAW.
4th Floor Yellow
ReplyDeleteSaw that in Mr Mason's address, that will upset the goons at the Biscuit Factory.
CRUMBS!
I must say putting the names up at 16:48 on a friday then taking them down on a sunday afternoon doesn't look dodgy at all, I have only 2 questions 1) who at TfL is losing their job over this? 2) How much compensation are all the taxi drivers getting for having their personal details placed online?
ReplyDeletePlease write to these then make a claim ,Go through your union or org https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us.aspx
ReplyDeletesurely, any child playing around in the back of a cab, can & WILL, remove anything not bolted down - 20 years ago I had a party of hooray-henrys in the cab, one of the pushed a screw-driver into the rubber door surround and when they got out, I saw that, the whole rubber door seal had been removed
ReplyDeleteLETS keep phd out off LONDON GREEN /YELLOW UNITE ONE BADGE TEST YELLOW SEE WHAT THEY KNOW OUT OFF 4000 DRIVERS 2O00 WOULD GO BACK TO SUBS WE NEED HELP ??/
ReplyDeleteThis exercise in diversifying the trade and keeping the issue of private hire ranking illegally outside venues from the front page, has cost a fortune that could have been spent on enforcement.
ReplyDeleteWell done LCDC you unelected board (committee) have been party to this and should be sacked.