TAXIS POUNCE ON TIGER, TIGER

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: september 2009 :: RMTnews 7 R MT officers and reps working for members at First Group bus and rail companies met in Unity House recently (right). The meeting followed concerns raised at the bus workers grade conference that the First UK Bus Board had imposed a pay freeze for operating companies with pay talks due this year. Assistant general secretary Mick Cash said that First was imposing pay freezes, job cuts and other cost-cutting measures across the board. “RMT is working for a national pay claim,” he said. Bus members at First Somerset and Avon are currently being balloted for strike action against the pay freeze. L ondon taxi drivers descended on the “Tiger,Tiger” club in the Haymarket to reclaim the rank outside the famous night spot. RMT activists had tried to negotiate with the relevant Authorities responsible for enforcing this stretch of roadway so that taxi drivers can rank up for fares without harassment from Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs). After no action was taken taxi drivers decided to take some direct action and converged on the venue to take control of the rank at 2am. This prompted the arrival of Club Manager Gavin Hughes who welcomed having licensed black cabs outside and saw it as a positive benefit for the venue. Within a very short space of time every one of the 30 or so taxis had picked up a legitimate fare and were replaced by more cabs. One taxi driver member said that due to the traffic congestion at Piccadilly Circus there was a queue of fares and no taxis which led to the return of the touting PHVs. “When questioned as to whether they had pre-booked jobs, most took flight when a camera was produced taking their photo. “If one man with a camera can keep the rank clear, why can’t Westminster’s Director of Transport Martin Low’s army of enforcement officers do it,” he said. One taxi driver later reported that he had picked up a fare to Putney from the club and when asked how much it would cost he said around £25. “When I asked how much they were quoted by PHVs they said between £35 and £45,” he said. TAXIS POUNCE ON TIGER, TIGER FIRST GROUP BUS AND RAIL REPS MEET