MAYOR SET TO DECIMATE LONDON TAXI TRADE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2011 :: RMTnews 27 London mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to impose an age limit on London black cabs that will mean no vehicle over fifteen years of age since first registration could be licensed as a hackney carriage. This decision due to come into force next year will have a substantial impact on drivers’ livelihoods and decimate the London taxi fleet. Just a few years ago former London mayor Ken Livingstone introduced a requirement for all London taxis to meet the Euro 3 requirement for emissions controls. The tariff was increased by just 0.20p per hiring as a way to pay back the drivers for their investment of about two thousand pounds to have the necessary systems fitted to reduce nitrous oxide and particulate emissions. The amount recovered did not in any way pay the overall costs for those drivers who were affected. Now the current Mayor has gone a stage further by not allowing a consideration of retro-fit of systems on older taxis to meet the requirement for stricter emissions controls, but instead wants them off the road. The London Taxi branch has asked the union to fight this imposition on the taxi trade. It appears that the mayor and his cohorts are singling out taxi drivers for polluting London’s streets. Yet there is no proof that it is taxis that are responsible for the number of deaths that occur in London each year due to respiratory disease. Since the imposition of licensing of private hire vehicles the number of cabs licensed has remained reasonably constant at about 22,000 or slightly more. Yet, there has been a prolific increase in the number of private hire vehicles competing for the limited work available due to recession, anything between 70,000 and 80,000. Coupled with this is the illegal activity of private hire owners and operators which goes uncontrolled and unpoliced. It seems that the only people doing anything about it is the RMT London Taxi branch who, despite being vilified by other taxi organisations, has managed to keep the issues at the fore front and does not stand for any nonsense. The issue of emissions is based on a consideration of air quality strategies that are incumbent on the mayor. RMT branch members believe that working and living in a clean air environment is important. But we question the way that the consultation has taken place. Firstly, the London Taxi branch, which submitted a reply to the consultation, is concerned that there may be flaws in this process. Other groups representing taxi dealerships, fleet proprietors and the taxi manufacturers as well as rival trade organisations were invited to participate. This is an invite to those who make and sell taxis and are concerned with selling more taxis to replace old cabs and make more profits. Even the poor London cabbie is victim to the pressures of making profit for shareholders. The mayor must take into account the social costs of these decisions and how in the first year alone of these measures that more than 3,500 vehicles will be de-licensed. This becomes an ongoing process in subsequent years. The consultation process should have at least included submissions from all those who would be affected by these measures. This patently did not happen. Once again it is those with vested interests who hold the sway over the rank and file. The branch would like to see a hold placed on any implementation of these proposals until a full process of negotiation and compensation measures are agreed. Many drivers would no longer be able to meet the costs of financing new taxis which cost about £35,000. This will also mean that many older drivers who are over retirement age and have only the state pension to live on would be reduced to possible penury. The RMT London taxi branch are the only organisation to oppose the 15-year policy until equitable measures are negotiated to ease the elimination of older taxis whilst keeping a viable taxi system in the capital and men in work. Boris has a fight on his hands and we are prepared to organise to defeat him by any legal means. He is quite happy to spend millions on the Barclays’ bike scheme but is offering nothing to the Taxi trade by way of compensation for these drastic and unfair measures. LONDON MAYOR SET TO DECIMATE LONDON TAXI TRADE London Taxi branch secretary Stan Marut slams plans by London mayor Boris Johnson to impose 15 year age limit on vehicles MAKING A STAND: RMT branch secretary Stan Marut and branch chair John Kennedy