Water-loo Station was a hive of RMT activity on the 27th Novem-ber 2009 with the local RMT branch swinging into recruitment action along with younger members of the RMT and the recently formed London taxi branch.
The general secretary Bob Crow turned up and all members of the union met for a chat and photo call under the clock at the steps of Waterloo. Pictured from left to right is RMT branch member and activist Eddie Morias, David Vidgen Branch Secretary, member and activist Trevor Denton, our General Secretary Bob Crow and John Kennedy vice chair of the London taxi branch. What was pleasing was the reaction of taxi-cab drivers on the rank at Waterloo station as leaflets, pens, lanyards were given out along with many application forms to join the fastest growing branch and trade union here in the United Kingdom.
The RMT London taxi branch has come in for a lot of stick of late but like any good trade union we just get on with the job of defending the rights of taxi-cab drivers and your right to ply for hire. With satellite offices fast becoming a major threat to that right we must prepare and be ready to take action to protect our jobs and future here in the capital. Just remember it was the RMT that led and took decisive action about the "killer on the knowledge", it's the RMT that is leading the way regarding pedicabs/rickshaws in its campaign to ban these objects from the public highway and oppose "clause 19" of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill. Others talk of action but here at the RMT we have a track record second to no union or association we organise and ensure our branches operate to the best of their ability.
A special thank you must go out to all members who attended but especially to our fellow brothers here at Waterloo station the welcome they gave us was just amazing. I/we would also like to thank committee members Stan Marut and Paul Bond for the great work on the rank and the many drivers who donated to the RMT widows and orphans fund and recieved a 2010 diary in return. Like all days they have a habit of relying on one individual who doesn't get in the picture but manages to sort nearly everything else out and that is member and branch activist Michael Tinnion, a big thank you from all of us at the London Taxi branch of the RMT.
The picture below is of Paul Bond Committee member of the London taxi branch (hi-vis yellow bib) with Trevor Denton member and branch activist, JK and members of the Waterloo RMT branch plus our Regional Organiser Brian Whitehead on the centre island at Waterloo station taxi rank. Once again we must extend a massive thank you to all the RMT members present it was a pleasure and an honour to meet with such dedicated individuals who are prepared to represent their fellow colleagues.
