Taxi Driver Online

Many taxi drivers are shocked by the contents of the new report on the future of the taxi industry, which has advised against a moratorium on the issuing of new licences.

The Goodbody Economic report claims there is no evidence that taxi drivers' earnings are collapsing, even while it acknowledges that they are working longer hours.

Those of us in Taxi Drivers for Change can attest to the fact that earnings are dropping dramatically. My own earnings have dropped by about 40pc over the past 12 months, while my hours of work have increased significantly.

Taxi drivers are facing hardship on a daily basis and the stress on their families is immense. I am constantly hearing people saying they couldn't pay the mortgage this month. Others are struggling to repay their car loans.

Taxi drivers who become ill and cannot go to work face a very difficult situation. Other self-employed people can put money aside for a rainy day, but we don't have that opportunity because we haven't been able to come home with a decent wage.

Chaos

Taxi Drivers for Change came together as a group about six weeks ago. There are around 15 on the committee, and 2,500 drivers took part in the last protest.

A root-and-branch review of the industry is required. There are terrible injustices within the taxi industry that must be addressed.

Here are just some of the reasons why we're protesting and what we're looking for:

1. We request suspension to the issuing of licences as there are enough taxis in Ireland to allow a review of an industry that's already in chaos.

2. Health reasons. Drivers are being forced to drive exhausting hours, putting the driver and the public in danger. Reports suggest driving while tired is more dangerous than driving after a drink.

3. Safety. We want proper vetting of the industry and all entrants, tax clearance to be produced yearly and illegal drivers dealt with severely.

4. Standards must be improved to entry levels to stop incompetent drivers entering the industry. We have all heard the stories of drivers renting for a week here and a week there.

5. Level playing field. The Government must stop giving incentives (grants) to encourage entry into the industry. PAYE workers have obvious benefits over full-time taxi drivers and put them at a huge disadvantage.

6. Give incentives to people within the industry to change to wheelchair vehicles to challenge the shortage of same (use €18 million collected from drivers).

7. Allow drivers access to sick pay and family income support.

8. Create sufficient rank space for present levels to allow drivers to carry out their work without incurring fines.

9. Consider why drivers can not make a decent living (now working for less than the minimum wage) and support them. Regulator should advise possible entrants of limited/declining earnings available -- before they end up in the red like the rest of us.

10. Drivers believe Taxi Drivers for Change is the group acknowledging the desperation they are facing on a daily basis and this allows them to protest with dignity.

Taxi Drivers for Change wants to offer constructive suggestions to Minister Dempsey if he would allow us an opportunity to meet him.

Jim Waldron is an official spokesperson for Taxi Drivers For Change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDxxZ2e1 ... re=related

This may be in ireland but its the same all over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Y3rjHYB7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYUZNBj0-o

Great Vids Tony, a must watch for anyone banging the dereg drum still, anyway, I've come up with a great idea, as ppl don't use a cab that much anymore and the competition is getting more and more, I'm going to sell small items like toothbrushes and earbuds from my boot, and if I can obtain the licence for it I'm gonna sell sex toys as well, but this will be so ppl can buy a certain item from me and take it home with them and play at being a cabby without ever holding a steering wheel.

I have made up my own version for Dundee

LETFORD LETFORD LETFORD OUT OUT OUT
LETFORD LETFORD LETFORD OUT OUT OUT

WHAT DO WE WANT LETFORD OUT
WHEN DO WE WANT IT NOW NOW NOW

Its time the trade stopped bickering amongst itself and started lobbying our MP's for a fair crack of the whip.

It’s time to clean up and clarify all laws & legislation pertaining to the taxi trade!
The taxi trade require clarification and clear parameters for Councils to adhere to; this will give the trade the guarantees that all Councils throughout the UK are accountable to same legislation and having to adhere to the exact same laws, every Council the length and breadth of the UK seem to read the laws and legislation completely different from one Council to another, the reason this is the case is there are too many gray areas that are misinterpreted from Council to Council.
Councils are requiring exact parameters regards defining the number of taxis per head of population for their licensing boundaries, the percentage of taxis that are required to be wheelchair accessible i.e. 20% 40% 50% 100% and the percentage of private hire cars to public hire taxi i.e. 20% 40% 50% 100%. Giving Councils exact numbers to work from would eradicate all court cases from persons applying & being refused a licences & then taking their case to court, if Councils have legislation giving exact guidance on defining numbers this would alleviate a big Council headache. Lots of Councils are de-regulating, not because it’s better for public safety & to provide a better service, no, but it guarantees the Councils will not end up having expensive court cases pending any refusals, de-regulation from the trades point of view guarantees one thing, excessive hours and the public and drivers lives put in danger. If there was a formula that takes into account the number of population to the number of taxis or a guaranteed shelf life on any survey defining the numbers required then Councils would have exact numbers or time scale to adhere to.
Police in England & Wales have no problems in charging private hire driver/owner for soliciting or applying for hire illegally they are also charged for driving without the proper public hire insurance and yet to my knowledge there hasn’t been a single charge in Scotland for the same offence. Again this is another area that laws and legislation are requiring clarification, this would give the police & the taxi trade clear guidelines on where they stand pertaining to the laws on this matter.
Councils should be held accountable for their actions, if a licence is suspended and if the case is dropped due to lack of evidence, the Council in question should be held accountable for the licensee’s losses.

If you want things to change it's down to us to do something about it.

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat

HERE HERE

Slightly inaccurate I am afraid, I was working in Newport Gwent 4 years ago and they pulled a total of 32/33 drivers over two nights for illegal touting - not one went to court or had disciplinary action taken against them

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

I don't understand



I totally agree with you and have thought this for a while. This always gives councils an advantage when we don't hold together

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

Think vibrating sex toy and what it's used for.


Yee of a sheltered upbringing

I did but I can't think how that relates to taxi driving

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

Oh bluddy ell, I gotta spell it out for you.


So they can get shafted in the comfort of their own home without commiting a lot of money 1st.

Are you a blonde hun?

I have been known to have blonde moments but no I'm not

At least now I know what you mean

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

thats my girl

I totally agree with you and have thought this for a while. This always gives councils an advantage when we don't hold together [/quote]

If we collectively fight to change the things that affect all of us and forget about what's good for us personally and just maybe we could improve on our present situation, although the trade in my opinion seems to be full of small minded people who only want to fight for the things that matter to them and them alone and don't consider the bigger situation.

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat

The problem with the Irish Government is that they were caught with their pants down and now have to play catch up. I would be sceptical of a report that suggests taxi drivers' earnings in Eire have remained stable since deregulation. The shear volume of additional licenses would suggest the contrary.

Regards

JD

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