Never On Our Knees...

The RMT is the only trade union that is growing at this present moment in time and the simple reason for this is we listen to our members. For too long the taxi trade in London has been led by a bunch a people who no doubt care but fail to see that their appeasement of polices laid down by the misguided at Transport for London have failed not only you and your family, but the wider travelling public. We have a mountain to climb if we are to repair the damage done to the world's finest taxi-cab service and we shall be hitting the ranks, the streets, the roads in 2010 with a very simple message and that is join the one trade organisation that is prepared to listen to you and allow you the members to set policy for your jobs and your families future.

What has anybody to fear of the RMT, the answer is nothing for we are not a top down union telling you what will happen and telling you what hours you can work, for you're self employed and just to clarify yet again the domestic driver hours does not apply to self-employed taxi-cab drivers and neither does the working time directive. It is a great shame other trade oragnisations choose to mislead you, in fact their time would be better spent trying to reslove the issue of the satellite mini-cab offices, a serious problem that they allowed to be created and mushroom out of all control we may add.

On the 5th of Febuary 2009 thousands of taxi-cab drivers attended a demonstration at Trafalgar Square, up to 8,000 according to the LTDA yet what did this actually achieve? For at this present time we have 4, yes 4 new taxi-cab ranks in the West End of London with one illegal rank closed down at Whitcomb Street. Now with TFL looking into bays on the public highway (ranks) for mini-cabs, Westminster council seeking to give ranks to pedicabs with the blessing of the LTDA and the union UNITE and satellite mini-cab offices flourishing at an alarming rate all is not rosy in the land of London taxi-cab driver and all is certainly not well with your trade representation.

So what should you do? Well at the RMT we think the answer is simple if you have never joined a trade union or organisation try the London taxi branch of the RMT for we have many battles ahead, not internal ones we'll leave the sniping to others but our battles will be with Transport for London and the Public Carriage Office. We shall do our level best to stop the rot and not just hold the line but bring a better future for you and your family. We aim to achieve this through dialogue, good sensible knowledgable dialogue, but if this approach doesn't work we can always lobby our parliamentary group, picket, protest and highlight to the wider world via all forms of media the problems we face dealing with the many levels and bodies that have influence over your working lives. If you haven't already think about joining the fatest growing taxi branch in the UK, join the RMT and know you have a winner not just behind but standing shoulder to shoulder right next to you. http://www.rmt.org.uk/

Waterloo Station Recruitment Day.

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.

RMT Airport Representative Mick Moran on the case over M4 Bus Lane.

The M4 bus lane saga continues and so does the campaign by the RMT London taxi branch. Mick Moran RMT Heathrow Representative is seen here outside Parliament delivering even more letters of complaint to Members of Parliament. With well over 1,000 letters signed by taxi-cab drivers at Heathrow airport and the Royal Oak taxi centre the RMT London taxi branch demonstrates its commitment to the cause to see the law enforced by the Metropolitan Police and the Highways Agency.

Taxi-cab drivers should be under no illusion that this issue is going to take time to resolve because of the lack of will by those in authority. With the December branch meeting of the RMT fast approaching members will be looking forward to a busy calendar in the new year with plenty of demonstrations and issues like the M4 bus lane being brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

Already members of the RMT London taxi branch are recieving letters from their respective members of parliament with Siobhain Mcdonagh MP for Mitcham & Morden writing to the Highways Agency and Met Police. Those in authority need to understand we shall campaign, complain, picket & demonstrate until issues that affect our livelihoods are dealt with in a proffessional proper manner.

If you are thinking of joining a trade organisation look no further than the RMT London taxi branch log onto www.rmt.org.uk/ and join the specialist transport union RMT.

RMT London Taxi Branch heads to Parliament.

Welcome to the new website/blog of the RMT London Taxi Branch and to kick start our first post what better way than to inform you of a visit to Parliament by three of our committee members.

Brian Hall, John Kennedy Vice Chair and David Vidgen Branch Secretary (pictured outside Portcullis House, Victoria Embankment) along with James Croy RMT Political Officer met with RMT Group Convenor John McDonnell MP. Many issues were discussed regarding problems the taxi trade faces in London including "clause 19" of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill and the call for a public inquiry into Transport for London/Public Carriage Office.

The RMT London Taxi Branch has a voice in Parliament that is prepared to speak up for the hard working self employed taxi-cab driver and no doubt over the coming months and years the links that the RMT specialist transport union have built up over decades of representing transport workers across the UK will become invaluable in leading the London taxi trade out of its present state.

If you wish to contact the RMT London Taxi branch please email Londontaxi@rmt.org.uk or maybe you wish to join online at  http://www.rmt.org.uk/ .