Taxi Driver Online

The problem is you have no unity. You need to have everyone sign up to a trade body with a proper mission statement representing a consensus of ones own interests. You then need a legal constitution that limits the powers and functions of your newly formed political entity.

Then you need a set of protocols, to agree conventional principles and expectations that are considered binding upon each member.

And then you need a public deceleration of intentions to tell everyone what you are all about.

This would be the political arm, of your organisation.

You would also need 24/7 legal representation for each of your members. This would be one of the main benefits of membership. Of course this would all have to be paid for by collecting monthly fees by direct debit, on retainer, as a means of funding the organisation and its legal representation.

Committee meeting, election meetings, etc. You know the drill.

If you can organise all this, and get it off the ground, then you're ready to go to War with your local authority to get what you want.

If not, then it's back to the begging bowl.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Oh and btw,


If you can hurt your council through the political process or through giving them a bloody nose in court. They will negotiate a settlement that suites both your interests.

Unlimited political and legal fire power is what you need.

Over to you tx_op, and to you stationtone

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Think about the above as taking control of your own Destiny, without having to seek approval from your political masters.

A proper negotiation is when both sides are capable of doing each other harm. You negotiate a settlement because it could be costly for both of you if you don't. A trade body with unlimited legal fire power, could stop a council in its tracks.

Tariffs, quality controls, quantity controls, a cap on numbers, etc. Anything is possible, but you need a unity of mind and a purpose of will, to improve your lot.

Well, stationtone, tx_op are you up for it? You seem to be the ones putting yourself forward.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Some wise words there Skull, and not a hint of negativity, i'm impressed !!

Thanks for that.


From what I can gather. The Dundee taxi trade is in exactly the right position to make all of this happen. There seems to be little more to lose but everything to gain, from taking control of your own trade.

If you can get into a position where you can inflict damage on Dundee Council, they will have to sit up and take notice.

The life of man upon earth is a warfare.

Job 7:1

I only hope you see it the same way.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Let me inject some negativity here.

This has been tried and it failed because owners and drivers interests appear to be wholly separate. Because of the restriction of licenses the opportunities for the trade to come together and pull as one don't exist.

There appears to be a situation in Dundee where owners want this to happen again there. That would ruin the potential for the whole trade to pull together.

If lessons are to be learned, then Dundee needs to embrace the opportunities they already have, Edinburgh ois still fighting the restriction battle, the council is stoically resisting it. Probably because of control freakery, protection of its own transport intersts or just simply that the Skull and Taylor are not playing by the standard rules the council is comfortable with and need to be slapped down.

No matter. Edinburgh WILL de-restrict. It is inconceivable, as has been recognised by Aberdeen's Coirporate Services Director who described restriction as "anti-competitive" and "unsustainable", for it not to.

The challenge is how we use this new situation to develop the professionalism in the trade by putting in place real and effective quality controls. This will be the answer to meeting the competition from a poorer PH.

If PH are doing essentially the same job as hacks, why should they not be subject to the same stringent quality controls as we have?

Why should a PH customer be subjected to a poorer service than a hack customer gets?

It's preposterous for this to be case. So we agitate to bring them up to our standard. And that will weed out a lot of limited language, fly-by-nights operating who have no regard for the rules.

There is no need to have a dual licensing system. There is no reason why we can't bring all public hire vehicle services into a single tier system, with the same quality controls, with the same standard, and the same tariff.

Here's some suggestions for real quality controls.

A comprehensive local knowledge test.

Customer focussed driving skills.

Real first aid courses supported by a council led insurance scheme to protect drivers administering same.

A decent understanding of the Road Traffic Law relevant to taxi drivers.

An understanding of the common law relating to theft, law of contract and assault.

Real customer focussed service.

The list could go on., But the aim is to provide our customers with a real quality service which will encourage increased use of the service.

And all of this would be backed with a real formula for assessing a tariff that reflects the quality of service being delivered.

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

just checked the agenda for next thurs council meeting,only six new applicants (wav plates)maybe the pemiere isn,t going to flood the trade with new owners ,there is usually three new owners a month anyway,the usual rank gossipers were talking about sixty new ops

Do you know how many have retired or gave up for pastures new?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I think there were about 6 not renewed or passed away recently.
Full Agenda http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/reports/ag ... 0agpub.pdf

Also a report about the Dundee taxi card scheme

Could it be the market mechanism is actually working? Perhaps the time is right to push for more stringent quality controls, and the enforcement of current regulations. Things might be shi, but now maybe your chance for improving things.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I hope your right and it is not a case of drivers waiting to see if the peugeot got approved. Then it will be next month, after the applicants sit for 28 days before we see the real impact on the trade.