Multi-ethnic taxi firm cleared of racism
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/479569 ... of_racism/
ONE of Oxford’s biggest cab companies has been cleared of allegations of racism made against it by one of its drivers.
Last month, Oxford City Council investigated an incident at 001 Cars after a driver of Pakistani descent claimed a colleague racially discriminated against him.
The allegation was made after a busy Halloween night on which the firm’s computerised booking system crashed and taxi drivers had to be told of their jobs by telephone instead.
001 managing director Mark Green said the Pakistani driver had a grievance with a Lebanese call handler whom he thought had overlooked him for a long-distance fare to an airport.
The situation escalated after a row on the stressful night, he said.
The allegation led Indian and Pakistani drivers to hand in a petition to Town Hall insisting that the company and its employees were not racist.
Mr Green said: “We put this to the city council because it was such a serious accusation.
“We’re a very friendly firm and it would be damaging for the company if people thought we were racist.
“There was also a safety issue as we don’t want any our drivers picking up drunken passengers and being attacked because people think they are racist.
“We really wanted that to be made clear because we’re a multi-ethnic firm and we have probably got every nationality you can imagine working here.”
The council investigation of the firm, which employs about 130 drivers – of which about 70 per cent are from ethnic minorities – cleared it of any wrongdoing.
General manager Carol Jones said: “The council dealt with this very quickly and we held our own internal investigation which was conducted without suspending anyone.
“This was a misunderstanding, but the drivers were up in arms about it because they couldn’t believe the allegation.
“The driver is still here. We don’t racially discriminate against anyone and we don’t bear grudges.”
City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “Our licensing team leader made himself available to sit in on this meeting to provide any assistance should any matters relating to taxi licensing legislation be raised.
“And also to validate whether or not any form of racial discrimination had occurred between the parties concerned that may give rise to the council having concerns over whether the persons involved could be deemed not to be fit and proper for the purpose of being a licensed taxi driver.
She added: “The matter has now been resolved. No incidents of racism were found to have taken place.”
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