Taxi Driver Online

'Unfair' rent rise prompts demo by Leeds taxi drivers

16 October 2010

Hundreds of taxi drivers from one of Leeds' biggest private hire firms staged a mass demonstration in protest at a "unfair" rise in their base rent.

Drivers from Armley-based Amber cars, which has around 700 drivers, have been told by bosses their weekly rent will increase from £90 to £100 – a ten per cent rise.

However fare rates will stay the same, meaning the increase will have to be met by the drivers and not passed on to passengers.

Around 250 members of the GMB Private Hire Association gathered at the firm's headquarters in Athlone Street yesterday to protest at the measures.

Spokesman Mahaz Mohammed said: "We don't mind the rent going up but we want our demands met as well."

"The price of petrol, insurance and wear and tear is going up every day. We are already struggling with the recession."

"It's unfair and they are punishing drivers."

"We are asking them to raise the meter fare too."

Drivers want to be able to raise their minimum first-mile fare to £3.00 and increase the additional per-mile rate by 20p to £1.50.

They also want a £4.50 minimum fare for journeys within the city centre, claiming other firms charge the same or more.

Tahir Iqbal, a driver with Amber for three years, said: "The recruitment of drivers is continuing, we are paying more rent and insurance and the firm is making more money.

"The cake is getting smaller. The rent is fixed whatever we make, no matter how much we make. Some drivers make less than minimum wage."

"All we are saying is if you are putting the rent up, put the fares up as well."

A statement issued on behalf of Amber cars given to the YEP said: "We need to be as competitive a possible to keep our market position and increasing fares for certain journeys by 80 per cent is not commercially viable.

"We have already spoken to the drivers and their representatives and would be happy to continue with this dialogue."

Source; http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 6583680.jp

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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.

£70,000 a week plus a slice off accounts.....

Why do PH insist on bit*hing about operators, I've done it myself. The reality is if you don't like it go somewhere else that gives you what you want, that's the only way the companies will learn. If you can't find what you want create it in the form of a co-operative, which I actually think is the best thing

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Easier said than done.

Most of those drivers would have been on that circuit for years, and would have helped build the circuit. To suddenly leave isn't always the best option.

Bit surprised the firm wants to raise rent to drivers by such a huge amount though. Maybe they should just do it for new drivers, and put existing driver's rent up only by inflation.

Else people will get the impression that this firm is a bunch of money grabbing ****s, and we wouldn't want that.

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IDFIMH

Anything worth having is never easy, but, it is easier than most think it is

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

£70K a week (£3,640,000 a year) is a hell of a lot to rent/run a base and pay base ops (traditionally not the best paid job in the world)

add on the usual extras (10-20% off each account job, and a few creamed jobs)

is amber owned by one guy or a collection of directors, etc?

For all thier experience they still seem confused...

Lucky sods ! One firm in my town charges £190 +VAT per week (130 vehicles) Firm I'm with charges £80.

What's the highest weekly rent in the UK, and lowest? I'm guessing the £190 has to be near the top.

average rental costs in falkirk-

radio only- £80-£100 (1 is £115)*

car system- £220-£250

wav system- £250-£270

* this is a TOA with less than required members for lower cost

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

I bet with a slice of the accounts they'll be hitting £90,000 a week.

wish ours was only £100 a week £going up to £126 next week

FoxTrot26. Thats alot of money 21 quid a day for 6 days. What district are you on to justify that.

I have said this on here before, and no-doubt will say it again in the years to come.

It matters not what the office rent is, it only matter what you earn out of it.

So would you rather take £400 paying £50 a week, or £800 paying £100?

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IDFIMH

the rents only part of it though, how many circuits are run like private clubs for "inner circle" cars? (you know, when you see drivers on mobile phones who then vanish for 2 hours......), and the circuit owners own vehicles "FTF", or they ban renters having 8 seaters, etc, etc

oh, and how many pay rent and never see a reciept? no wonder crooks buy taxi firms, all that cash!

then theres the circuit/base owners who supply cars on inflated terms and inflated block insurances to those who would struggle to get HP/insurance, and they have workshops who repair renters cars and take account money, i used to know guys who were so in debt to the base they had to work double shifts and thier accounts were never seen as they owed that to the base too, some were virtual slaves!

I hope they issue a VAT reciept for it then