Taxi Driver Online

Taxi firm FonaCab insists drivers’ strike is just ‘rumours’

The managing director of a Belfast taxi firm has denied that his drivers are set to strike over a row about discount fares. FonaCab recently introduced a 25% discount card on cash fares in a bid to make the taxi firm more competitive.

However, some drivers have expressed anger at the move. William McCausland, managing director, last night dismissed talk of a strike as “rumours by competitors”. “Drivers from other depots have been talking about a strike at FonaCab, but they would say that as our new discount fares will damage them,” he said.

Mr McCausland said that any loss in fares would be made up by increased business. However, one FonaCab driver told the Belfast Telegraph: “I have seen no upturn in ether trade or takings, if after a period of time there is no increase will these cards be done away with?”

Mr McCausland responded that the discount card came out of extensive market research. “We have done a lot of research on this and are committed to it but we will monitor the impact it has over the weeks and months ahead,” he said.

_________________
IDFIMH

Thus Leaving the poor old paid driver to work 33.33333% percent longer just to earn the same in fares as the pre discounted price...that would inspire anyone to want to strike

I suppose it all depends on whether it generates more work, and how much is in the drivers bin at the end of the week.

If the drivers can get three £5 jobs an hour (down from £6.60), rather than two £6.60 jobs an hour, then the plan will be a success.

But that is a big if.

_________________
IDFIMH

I have been doing that for the last 6 months after 10PM and it works a treat and am I am doing on average 6 jobs an hour, while the rest just sit there with there fingers in neutral

By that same logic the Driver will also have used 33.333% more Fuel, wear and Tear and time to make very little more profit...so had he held his nerve he may just have had 3 £6.60 jobs per hour,...

If its so successful how come everyone else in gala hasnt cottoned on to the idea yet skip...those guys are normally fairly mercenenary in their competitive dealings.

As you may possibly know drivers here only receive a % of the bag and don't receive the min wage even though they don't own the vehicles or pay the fuel so they wont drop there prices as the owner say no, but as I have nobody to worry about I can please myself being a 1 man band, I would be very surprised if any driver took half of what I take a week

we did something similar a few years ago it does increase trade BUT the drivers just won't understand the logic all they see is that on certain fares they are getting a £1 less so we ended up scrapping it because half of the drivers were refusing to give the discount and the complaints were mounting up big time

Not if they are picking up near to where they drop.

_________________
IDFIMH

Thats another "If"..the whole rationale seems a bit "Iffy" indeed

Maybe if the company owner was challenged to take a 25% cut of all his drivers settle every week then he might have a different slant on his Idea. If fares between rival firms are kept the same then people would still choose the service that suit's them, lowering fares will not make more people go out unless it's cheaper than the bus.

_________________
Wishing I was in Greenhall Whitley Land.

If the discounts are successful, their competition will have no choice but to follow suit.
Then where will they all be.
25% poorer for the same effort?

_________________

http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

thats ok if 25% off the settle is the same as 25% off a fare totaled over a week

if the rents 25% is £25 and the discount total is £100 id still be pished off...

Understandably you would be peed of Wannabe but operators could not give a crap if you make £1 or £1000 all they are bothered about is them making money, someone with a fleet of 100 drivers with a 25% settle discount means an operator losing the money from about 25 drivers and 1000 losing 250 and I can't see them liking that. It may work for independents like Skippy but Skippy must cherrypick is work in a way (no offence Skippy, don't jump in yet) because obviously if he is constantly being requested for minimum fare jobs at the discount he gives then i'm sure he would not do so well, knocking some of these jobs back for longer jobs must give him the chance to make his money.

_________________
Wishing I was in Greenhall Whitley Land.

Your right Dagger, I dont cherry pick, all hires are done as they come in, If I am not able to take them there and then, they are told a time, they either accept it of call another firm
If I have bookings and someone comes to me between them and asks to be taken on a long hire I say sorry I am fully booked.
I have as of last week changed a few things, I now give a pound off 24/7 with a min charge of £2.00, this is now displayed on the top sign instead of the side of the cab, as there are that many cabs with adds on them folk dont pay attention to them but they do look at the top signs, this has had the desired affect with an abundance of work, folk just jump in no matter where I am on the rank takings up by a third, if I take a hire from our rank to Asda the fare is £2.60 the punter gets charged £2.00 but that is £2.00 more than the rest have.
I have the mentality (not the section one lol) of if your wheels are not turning your not earning, hard time call for drastic action