Breaking News.....

Ex Mayor of London Ken Livingstone on his Saturday morning radio show on LBC 97.3fm thinks the RMT London taxi branch idea of converting loading bays into night time taxi-cab ranks/stands is a good idea. In a conversation with the vice chair John Kennedy the ex mayor was interested in the idea muted by the RMT ranks & highways committee member Paul White.

Members of the RMT London taxi branch should note the ex Mayor of London also stated in the week that he was of the opinion that the rickshaws should be banned. The greatest shame with this statement is that when he was Mayor he didn't actually do this.

Please note the picture attached to this article is of two pedicabs removed from the public highway recently by the Metropolitan Police and Westminster City Council. The RMT London taxi branch is the only trade union seeking to ban pedicabs and rickshaws from the public highway.

Happy Easter to all members of the RMT London taxi branch and the wider trade, let us all look forward to spring with renewed confidence that a truly democratic trade union is now established within the London taxi trade.

You get a voice and a vote at the RMT not an air freshener...

John Mason Director of Taxis and Private Hire meets the RMT...(again).

On Tuesday the 16th March 2010 John Mason the new director of Taxis and Private hire met with representatives of the RMT London Taxi Branch at Portcullis House SW1.

John McDonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington, James Croy Political Officer RMT along with researchers plus David Vidgen Branch Secretary, Stan Marut complaints and compliance and finally John Kennedy vice chair attended honest open frank discussions with John Mason.

Many issues were raised with John Mason ranging from the M4 Bus lane fiasco, Richmond taxi rank, intimidation of taxi-cab drivers at Heathrow, Satellite mini-cab offices, illegal ranks of private hire vehicles outside venues and plenty of other issues were discussed too. John McDonnell MP certainly stood up for members of the RMT London taxi branch and he laid out a clear path for the RMT to be included in open honest formal discussions with TFL/PCO. The meeting was constructive and forthright which allowed for open honest opinions to be exchanged.

The RMT London Taxi Branch would like to thank John Mason for attending a meeting in the wonderful setting of the parliamentary estate and we certainly look forward to working with the new director so we can solve the many problems that have built up over decades within the London Taxi trade.

Please note a full report will be given to members of the RMT at the next branch meeting to be held on the 12th April 2010.

Remember if you want a voice and vote and not an air freshener join the RMT specialist transport union online at http://www.rmt.org.uk/

Martin Low of Westminster City Council Agrees to Meet.

On the 17th of March 2010 the RMT London Taxi branch protested outside the offices of Westminster City Council in Victoria Street SW1 over the ongoing problems faced by Taxi-cab drivers within the City of Westminster. With the now legendary bright red banner and the RMT horns blowing loudly and, might I add, three members of the RMT Council of Executives in attendance the protest begun promptly at 2.00 pm. The protest was good humoured with plenty of local people showing interest and support. But much to the surprise of all present Martin Lo, head of transportation at Westminster City Council, came out of the building and spoke with John Kennedy, vice chair of the Taxi branch, and fellow RMT London taxi branch activists.

Martin Low was robust and polite.He explained he spoke with other friendly societies and the trade union Unite, members of the Taxi branch explained they were night drivers and knew first hand the problems faced by working Taxi-cab drivers. John Kennedy raised many issues but importantly mentioned the failure of other trade organisations to take part in the consultation regarding the bill before Parliament that wishes to voluntarily register "Pedicabs".

The failure of others to respond to consultations is one of the many reasons that the RMT London Taxi branch was formed. This issue demonstrates how problems occur when those charged with looking out for our future fail to get involved and deal with a very important issue at an early stage. If other trade bodies had got involved at the beginning the trade could have helped to shape the legislation and maybe we the RMT wouldn't be objecting to the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill.

At 2.33 pm Martin Low agreed to meet with the Vice Chair John Kennedy.An immediate decision was then taken to call off the good humoured demonstration as a gesture of goodwill towards Martin Low and Westminster City Council. LBC 97.3 FM called the Vice Chair who informed the media of the good news that Martin had agreed to meet with the RMT.

Can I thank all the Taxi-cab drivers who turned up yesterday and may we the RMT London Taxi branch thank Martin Low, Head of Transportation, for coming out to talk with us and agreeing to meet soon. A big thank you also to the three members of the Executive Council of the RMT for supporting the plight of RMT London Taxi-cab drivers; Craig Johnston , Owen Herbert and Pete March thank you.

A special mention must go to the organising skills of Mick Tinnion, committee member, and Dizzy for fantastic banners/placards. Once again all members present would like to thank Martin Low for speaking to us directly and agreeing to meet the Vice Chair John Kennedy.

PS Mick love that drum, just fantastic...!

Channel 4 Tuk Tuk's...

Channel 4 have for some reason decided to put free tuk-tuk's onto the streets of London to promote its "Indian Winter" campaign. If you look at the picture we see clearly the Channel 4 logo and across the back you can just make out the words "take a free ride on us". Now the questions we need to ask of this public sector broadcaster are very simple.

Did they seek permission from any relevant authority (PCO/TFL, Westminster City Council, Metropolitan Police) before they decided to place tuk-tuk's on the public highway ?

Do Channel 4 understand that the London Taxi trade is presently in the middle of a very bad recession ?

Did Channel 4 contact any Taxi trade organisation/union and seek advice on this publicity stunt ?

Now before anybody tells us we are over reacting just remember when the first few rickshaws hit the streets of London we were told "people won't use them", "there's only a few of them" etc. Well here we are with well over 900 3rd world death traps on the streets of the capital and look at the chaos and congestion they cause.

The RMT London Taxi branch have been in contact with John Mason Director of Taxis and Private Hire and we are of the understanding that Martin Low of Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police are looking into this matter. Any further details we shall inform you asap via the blog/email or at one of our branch meetings.

Remember whatever you hear elsewhere you'll only get to the truth by talking to and joining a real Taxi Trade Union and that is the RMT specialist transport union http://www.rmt.org.uk/

RMT meets Murad Qureshi AM at City Hall...

The RMT specia-list tran-sport union and its London taxi branch hit the ground running this week with a meeting on Tuesday the 5th of January at City Hall where Brian Hall committee member (pictured here with Murad Qureshi) and John Kennedy vice chair met with Murad to discuss a range of issues affecting the London taxi branch.

Top of the agenda was the Mayor's emissions proposals and how these will in their present form impact on the London taxi trade. Murad was receptive and certainly understands the concerns of the self employed taxi-cab drivers. The discussions then widened from emissions to include pedicabs, touting, satellite mini-cab offices, transport for London and the Public Carriage Office.

It was felt by all present that this was a constructive meeting and we would certainly like to thank Murad Qureshi Labour Assembly Member of the GLA for agreeing to meet so early in the New Year. We look forward to meeting Murad at our branch early this year where many of the above subjects will be debated in much more detail.

3rd World Transport...

Would BAA let gliders take off from London Heath-row or Gatwick airports, would Transport for London or Network Rail allow you or I to use a manually propelled rail platform on the underground or intercity/highspeed rail network, the answer is a resounding NO! Therefore we must ask the question why does the Mayor and board of Transport for London sit back and allow one of the most dangerous passenger carrying objects to be placed on the public highways of the capital.

These objects have no impact protection nor facilities for those in wheelchairs or with assistance dogs. The objects are dangerous and should be banned from the public highway and placed within the confines of London's many parks. The Mayor wants to see these objects licensed, we at the RMT London taxi branch wish to see 3rd World rip off dangerous transport removed from the public highway. Others within the London taxi trade think it is a good idea to allow ranks/stands to be placed on the public highway for these objects. We must say it really does worry us and it should certainly worry you that the LTDA and the union UNITE think it would be a good idea to give these objects ranks/stands in any London borough.

You should remember that last year the RMT London taxi branch was the first trade union to react and deal with the issue of the individual on the knowledge of London who had serious mental health problems. The story broke on the 2nd of September we were picketing on the 4th and demanding a reversal of this policy that compromised public safety and our world wide reputation. The other trade organisations finally turned up on the 10th of September when we had done all the hardwork and won the battle in the media with reports in the Evening Standard and regular updates on LBC 97.3 fm. What was a real concern though was the fact that it was and still is rumoured that a certain trade association knew of this information for well over a year but who knows and let us be honest with you we only deal with fact and not fiction here at the RMT.

We have many battles ahead and we hope to soon have some excellent news regarding the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill. Remember we have an excellent parliamentary team that has written to the Mayor seeking talks and discussions regarding the progress of this bill and our democratic right to object to this daft pointless "Voluntary Registration Scheme" that is unenforceable and unworkable due to its voluntary nature. Remember the RMT says "NO to 19" (clause 19 of the bill) and the voluntary registration of these dangerous objects whilst the LTDA and the union UNITE say lets give them ranks/stands on the public highway. Come to think of it wasn't it the LTDA and the union UNITE that had the ear of the previous Mayor of London Ken Livingstone when Transport for London created these SATELLITE MINI-CAB offices?

Just Remember as we enter another year in recession and the start of the kipper season that it is the RMT specialist tranport union that is picking up the baton left by others who are clearly not up to speed or the job in defending your right to ply for hire.

Join the RMT specialist transport union at http://www.rmt.org.uk/ or contact the branch secretary at londontaxi@rmt.org.uk or via mobile phone 07899 786 433.