Taxi Driver Online

Paranoia is a terrible thing!!!!!!!!! Next you will be accusing me off following you all the way home up the A1m

Scared Off the Roads: Taxi Drivers Refuse to Risk Working During Strike

4th August 2008

Taxi drivers stayed off the roads in Halifax town centre on Saturday night because they were too scared to work.

It was the second weekend of strike action by private hire drivers and although they had been warned there must be no repeat of abuse and intimidation which took place the previous week, hackney carriage drivers refused to take the risk. It meant there were no taxis or minicabs operating in the town.

Late night buses were packed. But many people had arrived early – and went home early, meaning the evening passed without trouble.

Steven Smithies, Hackney Carriage Association secretary, said: "It was a sustained campaign of intimidation last week which the drivers were not prepared to risk again so they didn't work.

"Drivers were not prepared to be threatened, intimidated or have their vehicles damaged. It's a sad state of affairs, which is not of our doing.

"I'm sad that private-hire firms have not been able to resolve this. It's bad for everyone's business."

Private-hire companies boarded up their premises for the weekend. Their latest 36-hour strike was over regulations they feel are crippling the trade.

Their concerns include tinted windows regulations, MoT testing and badge renewals. Sultan Mahmood, Calderdale Private Hire Association secretary, said: "We made sure every private-hire company went home to ensure it was a 100 per cent peaceful protest."

Firms from neighbouring towns refused to enter Halifax.

Sajjad Hussain, of Newsome Taxis, Huddersfield, said: "We put the safety of our drivers first. We knew about the strike and were wary of any violence."

Daniel Geraghty, 26, of Southowram, was in Halifax celebrating his engagement to Claire Empsall, 29. "A lot of people were walking home, which was a worry. But there was a big police presence," he said.

"The council has known about this for a week and should have provided minibuses."

Rhiannon Smith, 16, of Luddenden, caught the bus home but said she brought her sandals to walk home just in case.

Tony Holbrook, 64, of Sowerby, said: "We are annoyed but coping by getting the last bus home."

Paul Leeson, bouncer at The Cell, George Square, Halifax, said: "This week most people have come into town early and will leave early."

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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When debating on the TDO Forum.

Well it seems they are sticking to their guns.

Which is very rare in this trade, and, whatever the merits of their concerns, is quite refreshing.

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IDFIMH

Your old shed would'nt make it, plus you would'nt get past the security folks on the main gate.

Have you renewed your passport GBC and still got your full uniform and the wellys

Taxi Drivers' Strike is Off... for Now:
Talks Mean No More Action for Four Weeks

8th August 2008

Strike action by private hire taxi firms has been shelved until September 8.

A week of tense talks between the Calderdale Private Hire Association and Calderdale council has prevented a re-run of last weekend's strike, when neither private hire nor hackney cabbies worked.

Hackney carriage drivers stayed off the roads for 36 hours because they were too scared to risk a repeat of the previous weekend's violence and intimidation.

Drivers reported abuse, missiles being hurled at their cars and being followed by striking taxis. But last weekend's strike passed without incident.

Sultan Mahmood, secretary of the Calderdale Private Hire Association, said: "The strike will not happen.

"We are happy because we did not want a strike because it effects our town economically. The council has assured us that it will listen and hopefully amend the regulations on September 8. If they don't listen then we have the opportunity to strike again."

A meeting was held at Elland Private Hire offices for drivers to discuss the developments.

Steven Smithies, of the Hackney Carriage Assoc-iation, said: "It is a very sensible decision not to strike."

Private hire firms were protesting over regulations they feel are crippling the trade.

The council licensing committee has agreed to consider two of their concerns – MoT testing and tinted windows.

The council has meanwhile been looking more closely at the reasons behind the cabbies' protest.

Chairman of the licensing committee Robert Thornber (Con, Ryburn) visited the council's transport depot at Battinson Road, Pellon, Halifax, with Paul Topham from the council.

They discussed the frequency of vehicle testing and tinted windows.

Councillor Thornber said: "I am relieved we have averted a strike."

The council's corporate services director, Cathe-rine Parkinson, said: "We are keen to resolve these matters quickly for both the drivers and the people of Calderdale.

"However, decisions of this scale cannot be made overnight."

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.