Taxi driver Tom King set up a local branch of the union this year in response to drivers who, in some cases, were working upwards of sixty hours a week to earn a living.

IWU to fight for taxi drivers’ rights

The man spearheading the Independent Workers Union in Derry has pledged to continue the fight for better working conditions and pay for the 2,000 taxi drivers in the city.

Taxi driver Tom King set up a local branch of the union this year in response to drivers who, in some cases, were working upwards of sixty hours a week to earn a living. Other drivers claimed they were forced to sleep in their cars between shifts.

Mr. King said: “The taxi drivers’ union will continue to work hard in the best interest of the taxi drivers in 2014. The union is in the process of lettering political parties including the SDLP, the DUP,Sinn Fein, People before Profit and the UUP inviting them to a meeting to discuss taxi related issues and problems within our city. We have already been lobbying the SDLP minister Mark H Durkan on the issue of inadequate taxi ranks both in the Waterside and City Side and his party have now written to the Department of Regional Development and the Department of the Environment in relation to this issue.”

Mr. King pledged to do more to make the working lives of taxi drivers in Derry easier and urged more people to join the uni

He added: “We will continue to Fight For A Living Wage for the drivers and dispatchers and appeal to the proprieters of major taxi companies here to raise the 13 year old outdated fares so that the men and women who do the job can make a living wage and not have to work excessive hours which is causing strain on relationships and family life.The drivers are all self employed and should be allowed to negotiate a fair price for their services just like brick layers,tilers,hair dressers,etc.So our message to the drivers is to join your union and demand your rights.”

Mr. King paid tribute to the IWU national exeutive for their support and to all local union members and committee for their hard work in 2013, which he said has been vital to the success of the union on the ground here.

He added: “I wish all our union members and all taxi drivers throughout the city a happy, profitable and safe new year.”

Unite and the GMB operate in the OCCUPIED 6 COUNTY'S why re invent the wheel???

Maybe they don't want to be represented by unions that share that view.

Unite and the GMB operate in the OCCUPIED 6 COUNTY'S why re invent the wheel???

Got me suspicions about this BUT UNIONISATION is the obvious route to take to solve their problems

Maybe they dont want automatic enrollment into the English Labour party....

us SOCIALISTS IN THE LABOUR PARTY AND THE TRADE UNIONS RECOGNISE THAT THE 6 COUNTY'S ARE ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED AND SUPPORT THE IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC POLITICAL AND MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM THOSE COUNTY'S HANDING THEM OVER TO THE IRISH REPUBLIC

One has to wonder why this has never happened? The Labour party has had plenty of opportunity.
Due to a lack of socialists and domination by slightly wet Tories perhaps?

Yep the Blairites the Brownites the pink Labour scum you name em they've infiltrated the Party ................good socialists expelled [militant] the latest vermin are an outfit called [progress] merely pale blue Tory's

Mind its easy to criticise from outside

With the right wing vote split 3 or 4 ways, a party of the left would clean up.

Probably not in the heart of Toryshire where you live.

Don't they still burn socialists there?

Probably not in the heart of Toryshire where you live.

Don't they still burn socialists there?

And your way will ensure a Tory government is a permanent fixture down here.