Taxi Driver Online

Revellers in Dundee could be left out in the cold this weekend if taxi drivers carry through on a threat to boycott the city centre.

Representatives of the Dundee Taxi Association contacted The Courier to claim that police "lost the plot" in the early hours of Sunday morning, as they clamped down on drivers queuing in non-designated areas.

Tayside Police had sent officers to the Marketgait area after reports that taxi drivers were parking on roundabouts and other thoroughfares while waiting to collect clubbers at the end of the night.

With the cabbies claiming that ultimatums were given to either move on or face fines, a meeting to be held on Tuesday could see drivers boycott the city centre this weekend as they weigh up their options.

Asked if a boycott was a realistic prospect, Graeme Stephen, chairman of the Dundee Taxi Association (DTA), said, "That's a very great possibility. There are a few options and I can't determine what will happen just yet.

"A few drivers were talking of strike action or taking two hours off when the clubs come out. There's a possibility of a boycott of the city centre as well, which I think happened 20 years ago.

"Flyers are going out to all the taxi offices and we'll just have to wait and see what happens at the meeting on Tuesday."

The area is a popular choice for late-night taxi drivers, with many waiting to pick up party-goers from nearby nightclubs Fat Sams and Liquid, as well as the G Casino.

Tony Waters, secretary of the DTA, was one of those drivers in the Marketgait area in the early hours of Sunday morning.

'Cat and mouse'

He said, "It was a bit of a cat and mouse game, as all the police were doing was moving people on. I've never seen anything like it — the police had lost the plot.

"I saw about 40 cars waiting at one point. They seem to be having some sort of clampdown and it's coming to a head with the drivers."

Tayside Police confirmed officers had been sent to West Marketgait but pledged to work with drivers to address the problems.

Chief Inspector Alexander Brodie said, "I understand that some taxi drivers are not happy with the increased attention given by officers to the unofficial rank that has appeared on the West Marketgait.

"This unofficial rank regularly continues from West Marketgait around the roundabout at Hawkhill and, aside from being illegal, increases the potential danger to other road users.

"The safety of the public, whether in vehicles or on foot, is paramount and officers will continue to take appropriate action where necessary.

"Dialogue already exists between Tayside Police, the local authority and taxi drivers in Dundee and I would encourage any taxi drivers who feel it necessary to raise this matter through the recognised channels."


http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee ... -plot.html

Is there something in the water in Dundee.

What part of ca bbies are creating a bigger problem don't you guys understand?

How can you have 40 cabs illegally ranking and not expect the council and the cops to do something about it?

Are cabbies above the Law here?

The problem is clearly caused by the recession. A downturn in demand and cabbies gravitate to the only places where there is work. It's natural. But wrong.

And, just think, rather than encourage people out of the market because of a lower demand and consequent oversupply, the vested interests want to cement that oversupply in stone through the restriction of licences that will accrue the plate premium which will prevent any necessary reduction of supply.

This is an argument Dundee cabbies can't win, and shouldn't even try.

It is the utmost folly to take on the authorities on their own ground, when they hold all the legal cards. And cabbies in Dundee are increasingly looking to the authorities, press and public like spoiled brats spitting out the dummy. You're consistently getting your PR wrong guys.

Perhaps one real solution might be to negotiate terms for suspension of licence to be picked up again at no cost. That may offer some hope of reduced supply in the short to medium term that would distribute more work to those who remain.

Perhaps another real solution is to press ahead with the real quality controls that would assist this to happen.

Or stricter regulation of the private hire who are simply taxis by the back door. Even to the fullest and same standards as cabbies.

A start might be to require all steet pick up hacks to be fully WAV compatible ASAP.

Dundee needs some to leave the trade, at least until the recession lifts.

BTW It occurs to me that if some do boycott the city centre when the clubs are coming out, others will simply step up and reap the reward for not doing so.

That's cabbie mentality.

It also occurs to me that those who are driving the taxi trade in Dundee are looking for immediate solutions to problems where the only solutions can only be achievd in the medium to long term.

There are no quick fixes.

We watch with interest.

This man speaks for a minority of the Trade and, has no authority to state that any direct action will be taken ! scaremongering...simple ! BTW.this is the man who stated at the Licensing Meeting that he had not discussed cappng of the town with his members let alone, decide on either option available, but, in two days can state to the press such drivel ! Did he threaten a strike when told that a 50/50 fleet was not an option ? The man represents himself and saloon status for his black market operator members !

The only strike that will be happening in Dundee this weekend is, if a few of the DTA/Unite members take a night off and go ten pin bowling with SNP Councillors

Glad to hear there's still some common sense in Dundee TX-op.

http://video.stv.tv/bc/news-Taxi_driver ... pute/?up=1


Progress made in Dundee taxi dispute

How so?

Because you weren't there.

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

You can give an idiot like you an illusion but you're still just an idiot.

Taxi drivers agree Marketgait 'boycott' in response to police action
Dundee taxis will "boycott" Marketgait this weekend as part of a protest about cabs stopping on the clearway.


By Andrew Argo
Published in the Courier : 20.04.11
Published online : 20.04.11 @ 12.52pm
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Taxi drivers threaten city centre boycott after accusing police of 'losing the plot'
Dundee Taxi Association chairman Graeme Stephen said passengers seeking a lift after a night out over the Easter holiday will have to walk away from the inner ring road.

Over 100 taxi drivers met in the Dee Club on Tuesday night to work out a response to what they regard as heavy-handed policing.

Feelings are running high after officers booked taxis picking up fares outside the G Casino where no vehicles are allowed to stop.

Mr Stephen said there was an area behind the casino where taxis could wait for customers but it was on private ground and there were insurance implications about operating on the land.

He went on, "There is a rank for six taxis at the nightclub on the other side of the road from the casino but it's difficult to get into it, and it's a game of cat and mouse to find a space.

"The casino is popular but the issue of taxis getting access to it wasn't thought through at the outset and this is why there is a problem now.

"We thought it would be okay to pick up passengers on Marketgait but police won't allow this, so this weekend we won't be on Marketgait at all. We'll go somewhere else.

Unanimous agreement

"Anyone coming out of the G Casino or the other places in that area will have to walk to find us. We won't be waiting in Marketgait."

Association secretary Tony Waters said, "The taxi trade agreed unanimously to boycott the area around the nightclubs and the G Casino at the weekend.

"The taxi drivers would like the public to know that because of police restrictions they have decided to take this action.

"We would like the public to know that they will have to make their way to the official taxi ranks for a taxi home — Nethergate, Ward Road or walk up the Hawkhill or Lochee Road.

"No taxi will stop in Marketgait because the police have said they will book us, so we say to customers 'please do not be offended when the taxis do not stop to pick you up'."

Dundee City Council and Tayside Police will meet next Tuesday to discuss the problem. Police say their actions are in the interests of public safety and are asking taxi drivers for co-operation.


http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee ... ction.html

Don't think so ! word is two dozen or so deciding who's wife (out of our Asian brothers) made the best bhajis, samosas, and sauces !

Did Councillor Jimmy Black attend ? if so, at least he was able to vote on a subject he's certainly got first hand experience on ! They tell me that Councillor's conduct several meetings in restaurants or did he ask time for more consultation

Oh dear txop and Eric of the Hackney Association are now agreeing with tx ops former employer Davy young of 203020 private hire.
I hope none of them where booked when the police stepped up there clamp down on taxis over ranking on Dundee's main taxi rank, the Gate on Thursday night.
Maybe they are glad that 203020 have a free phone in the G casino
now and that taxis can no longer pick up or drop of there without getting a large fine ,another fatsams central is on the cards . As all members of TDO have read txop was forever banging on about how unfair this was i wonder what has changed his mind .


http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee ... ycott.html

Correct me if i'm wrong but, were you not in a meeting with former employees of 203020 who were voting against their former employer ? Oh ! i forgot, that's ok if it helps saloon status and hired plates As for the Nethergate, Your Fuhrer initiated that ! just like he was responsilble for Fat Sam's midweek ! i hope some Unite members were amongst the ones who were reported by The Fuhrer.

Imagine paying a Union to get grassed up by another member who knew that penalties could have been served by the Police.

PRICELESS.