DEFINE PLYING FOR HIRE

R MT’s campaign for a statutory definition of who can and what precisely is ‘plying for hire’ won the support of Transport for London after the High Court ruled that the Uber app involving the use of a taxi meter was legal. Existing regulations state that private hire vehicles (minicabs) may only pick up passengers when pre-booked – rather than from a rank or in response to being hailed. However, the definition of plying for hire is based on case law built up over decades and would be more coherent and therefore easier to enforce if defined in legislation. At root this issue is about how to limit the incidences of unlicensed drivers preying on vulnerable passengers. It is an issue that has vexed regulators for some time, which is why the need for restrictions on why can ply for hire were first introduced. Transport for London has reached the informed and mature position that the Uber app as currently operated involves unacceptable risks to the travelling public. RMT welcomes Transport for London’s change of heart as evidenced in its current consultation and now with the publication of its 2015 strategy document for the sector. On page 30 of TfL’s document on the issue (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/taxi- and-private-hire-strategy2.pdf) it publicly supports the concept of a statutory definition of plying for hire and call on the government to accept this expert advice. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the fight to defend the taxi industry from the on-going assault on the right to ply for hire continues. "The union notes the important decision of the High Court which gives us an opportunity to keep the issue of the statutory definition of plying for hire, and the safety of the travelling public, right under the spotlight,” he said. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2015 :: RMTnews 6 R MT’s campaign against the hike in access charges for drivers serving the public at Birmingham New Street station has scored a major victory with Network Rail pushing back the implementation to allow for further consultation. The proposed charges would lump RMT taxi members with charges as high as £1,000 a year. Network Rail intended to levy the huge fees on drivers starting from last month - the date when the newly refurbished station re-opens. However, as a result of the RMT campaign it has been forced to rethink its plans. Faced with a boycott by Hackney Carriage taxi drivers, Network Rail had sought to illegally fill the taxi spaces with minicabs. These are vehicles that, for safety reasons, need to be pre- booked and which passengers cannot pick up from ranks direct. Given the well-publicised concerns about unregulated rogue minicab drivers, this was a shocking error by Network Rail bosses. Alerted by RMT’s public campaign - co-ordinated by the local branch and the West Midlands Regional Council - Birmingham City Council quickly recognised the error and sent the rail body’s plans back to the drawing board. Network Rail’s climb down involves it having to refund the annual permits already purchased by minicab operators, with it forced instead to start a consultation with the bodies that represent taxi drivers in Birmingham – RMT, TOA and ComCab. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the climb down over the introduction of access charges had been secured as a result of the hard work and determination of RMT members. “However this fight is not over and we still have work to do to consign these proposals to the scrap heap. “We have secured an important victory for passengers, who ultimately would have borne the cost of excessive annual station pick up licences. “However it seems Network Rail and other station operators are determined to squeeze their site users – whether that be retail space tenants, toilet charges, car parking or taxi access,” he said. DEFINE PLYING FOR HIRE BRUM TAXI CHARGE VICTORY