The Saga continues...

Yes the long awaited saga of the LLA and TFL (no.2) bill continues with this hybrid bill sitting in the House of Lords awaiting a 3rd reading which would then trigger a short period where we the RMT London Taxi branch would petition the House of Commons and exercise our democratic right and object to clause 19 of this bill.

The greatest shame of all though is that the London Taxi trade was consulted by TFL over this piece of legislation and not one trade organisation bothered to respond. If you don't get involved in the consultation process you can't alter the outcome or shape of bills/legislation and on this occasion it must be said that TFL consulted with the Taxi trade but the trade did not respond.

The good news is the RMT formed a branch for London Taxi-cab drivers and to date we have managed to effectively delay this bill in the last Parliament and see off a private members bill that sought to create ranks/bays for pedicabs here in London.

We look forward to petitioning the House of Commons and the opportunity to address a committee of our elected representatives.

Join online at www.rmt.org.uk .

Still no news...

The RMT London Taxi branch is awaiting a reply from TFL and Westminster City Councils Parliamentary agent regarding Clause 19 and the progress of this bill.

Please note only the RMT have opposed this bill and only the RMT seek to stop the creation of pedicab ranks which will no doubt lead to private hire ranks/bays all over the capital.

RMT London Taxi branch.

Still no date...

We still have no date for the 3rd reading of this bill and therefore claims by others within the taxi trade relating to "leading" on issues such has "clause 19" are mere fantasy.

When or can we say if the bill is read for a 3rd time in the Lords this will trigger a period of ten days where ALL trade unions/orgs can petition if they wish against "clause 19" which will create waiting ares/ranks for pedicabs.

The logic here at the RMT London taxi branch is simple pedicabs are a dangerous method/mode of transporting people in cities these objects should be confined to the parks and have no place or part to play in a city like London...

Getting it right...

Many in the Taxi trade say they seek a ban of pedicabs/rickshaws others tell you they want them banned but they are happy to allow legislation pass through parliament that will give pedicabs/rickshaws "bays" or has Martin Low of Westminster council said under cross examination by an opposed bill committee in the house of Lords "ranks" ! Check Hansard the parliamentary record if you don't believe us.

The RMT is the only union that has done any work regarding "clause 19" of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) bill. All other trade orgs (LTDA/LCDC) and the union Unite were consulted by TFL but they never responded to the consultation and hence we are once again chasing the tail and playing catch up because others are asleep.

Thank god the RMT opened a taxi branch and thank god we are prepared to petition against this daft clause that I'm affraid Boris Johnson the Mayor and Chair of Transport for London supports. This bill is supported by Westminster City Council and TFL, Boris is the Chair of TFL and the taxi trade has a representative on this board. We do hope that the taxi trade representative on the baord of TFL speaks out against the proposed "ranks" on the public highway for they may well set a precedent for PHV's/mini-cabs seeking "ranks" sorry rest bays on the public highway too. But then again after partitions fiasco in PHV's/mini-cabs who knows what else is in store for the taxi trade?

On another trade org blog you may read about a Mark Field MP and his private members bill which sought to license pedicabs/rickshaws, well we are pleased to announce that this bill failed to progress in the last parliament and it is therefore a dead duck. The RMT was and is on the case regarding this issue others may wish to tell you what great work they are doing but on closer examination you may well find that this is not the case.

Remember the bill before parliament is the LLA & TFL (no.2) bill and not Mark Field MP's private members bill which failed in the last parliament. Boris Johnson the Mayor supports the "voluntary registration" of these death traps along with Westminster City Council.

If you want to save your right to "ply for hire" and campaign to stop pedicab/rickshaw "ranks" and then seek and work for a ban (not just talk about it and write stories with pictures) join the RMT online at http://www.rmt.org.uk/ or email Londontaxi@rmt.org.uk and request an application form, alternatively contact the branch via  mobile/text on 07899 786 433.

Lord's to return on the 5th of October 2010...

The Lords will be returning to parliament on the 5th of October 2010 and the RMT and its London taxi branch awaits the 3rd reading of the LLA and TFL (no.2) bill.

We have responded to TFL and Westminister City Councils parliamentary agents regarding the proposed "voluntary registration" scheme of dangerous/unsafe objects known has pedicabs and informed them why we will be objecting to "clause 19" of this bill.

RMT the specialist transport union...

Parliament is in recess...

The bill which seeks to create ranks/bays for pedicabs is presently sitting once again in the house of Lords awaiting a 3rd reading before it can move to the commons and trigger a 10 day window where we the RMT specialist transport union can petition our parliament and ask for our objections to be heard before a parliamentary committee consisting of MP's.

Please click on the link http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/londonlocalauthoritiesandtransportforlondonno.2hl.html if you wish to see for yourself the progress of the bill through our parliament. If you are interested have a read of  "hansard" especially the opposed bill committee in the Lords where a Martin Low of Westminster City Council openly calls the bays they/he wishes to allocate to pedicabs "ranks".

The Lords have adjourned until the 5th of October 2010 and therefore this bill will not be have a 3rd reading until the early part of October 2010.

Within the Taxi trade much is made of who talks with who and what progress is being made by competing unions/organisations. Well the RMT specialist transport union along with its London taxi branch contacted the promoters of the bill and expressed concern at the lack of dialogue and engagement from TFL and Westminster City Council, we are pleased that the promoters of the bill "Sharpe Pritchard" parliamentary agents have finally made contact with us and requested communications start regarding our objections to "clause 19".

Pedicabs are dangerous objects that have no role to play within our public/private transport network. TFL and Westminster City Council where asked after the No.1 bill was rejected by a previous parliament to create a licensing regime for pedicabs, this they have not done. In fact they have created the worse option possible which is a "voluntary registration" scheme which gives privileges to pedicabs riders whilst they are able to cover/remove any registration plate has and when they see fit.

A "Voluntary registration" scheme cannot work because of its "Voluntary" nature. The London taxi trade though was consulted on this bill before it was placed before parliament and guess what not one trade org responded to the consultation. We have an email confirming this from the transport commissioner Peter Hendy/TFL if anyone is thinking of writing the opposite. This ladies and gentlemen is why the RMT London taxi branch was formed, this is the reason why others "don't like" the RMT because we embarrass and even shame them into actually doing the job they should have be doing for years.

Lax/lazy representation will kill this trade off and we at the RMT London taxi branch are all volunteers, we receive out of pocket ex's for the efforts/work we do to save our jobs/industry. We actually drive taxi-cabs for a living and do not rely on stand down pay, we have all the problems you have be it a day/night or weekend shift.

If you want to work to ban pedicabs you do not allow a bill to walk through parliament that will create ranks/bays and lead members of the public into believing that these dangerous unsafe objects are in fact licensed and safe.

We urge the LTDA, the union UNITE and the LCDC to join the RMT and petition against clause 19 of this bill. Time to stand up for taxi-cab drivers.

Join the RMT online at http://www.rmt.org.uk/ or pop into George Vyse's office at the Great Suffolk Street Taxi centre and request an application form.

PS we have more members attending branch meetings than other trade orgs can muster for their AGM's.

NO DATE NO DEBATE...

We wait and look forward to have the opportunity to petition parliament so we the London taxi branch of the RMT specialist transport union may speak with members of our elected parliament.

The bill has been reintroduced to the Lords we shall lobby both houses and do our level best to prevent pedicab ranks appearing on the public highway.

But what can you do ?

Answer: Join the RMT online at http://www.rmt.org.uk/ or request an application from George Vyse RMT Committee member at Great Suffolk Street taxi centre...

THE BILL IS BACK !

THE BILL IS BACK!

Yes the bill which attempts to provide pedicabs (three wheel trikes) is back and is now waiting for a date for a 3rd reading in the house of Lords...

PEDICABS RANKS WILL APPEAR IN THE WEST END...if this bill becomes law.

Westminster City Council and Transport for London were asked by a parliamentary committee to comeback to parliament with a licensing regime for pedicabs they have failed to do this. Instead they seek a voluntary registration scheme that is unworkable and unenforceable.

TFL can't control the touting outside bars and clubs...

Do you trust TFL, isn't this the same authority that introduced satellite mini-cab offices and then fail to deal with the clipboard operators and illegal ranks of PHV's?

Westminster City Council fail to enforce parking regulations outside bars and clubs...

WCC fail to clear taxi ranks of cars and phv's and do nothing to stop cars/phv's parking illegally outside bars/clubs, we have the evidence just look at http://www.theandersonshelter.blogspot.com/ .

Like many others do the sensible thing and stand up for your right to ply for hire, stand up for your job, your livelihood and your family.

Time to stand up to TFL/WCC and join the RMT specialist transport union at http://www.rmt.org.uk/ say no to clause 19 of the LLA & TFL (no.2) bill and lets kick the idea of pedicab ranks/bays into touch.

RMT London taxi branch...Oddy don't like us we don't care !

Time to Stand up for Taxi-cab drivers...

The LLA & TFL (no.2) bill which contains clause 19 will empower TFL and London councils enabling them to appoint pedicab ranks/bays.

The RMT and its London taxi branch will be petitioning against clause 19 and we shall continue to campaign until these objects are banned from the public highway.

If your trade body isn't petitioning against "clause 19" you will need to ask some serious questions of the people you are paying to represent you. For it is you the working taxi-cab driver that will end up ranked next to a piece of 3rd world transport not fit to be carrying passengers on the public highway and not them.

Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police have been ticketing and removing pedicabs under present legislation so we have the laws in place to deal with pedicabs that block the pavement or public highway. Time the United Trade Group spent less time slating the RMT and little more time trying to defeat a bill that will create pedicab ranks/bays on the public highway. Be under no illusion if this bill gives pedicabs ranks/bays then the private hire lobby will demand rest bays too and then see who'll be complaining that we didn't do anything to stop this from happening.

"BAN don't LICENCE shout the LTDA, well what a mess to get themselves into when they say one thing on an ad van but in reality they are prepared to allow a bill that creates ranks waltz through parliament in the hope a few parking tickets are given out by CCTV. To make matters worse this scheme is voluntary and therefore unenforceable.

NOTE the police and the councils have powers now to move pedicabs on and remove them from the public highway. This bill is a Trojan horse and it is working taxi-cab drivers who will lose out as per usual.

John Kennedy Chairman RMT London taxi branch...

PS Please note the promoters of this bill have been given plenty of opportunities to discuss this issue so that further time and public money is not wasted. It seems the present Mayor liked the support of taxi-cab drivers back in 2008 but is failing to listen to real taxi-cab drivers and instead hearing only silence from the taxi trade representative on the board of TFL...

Time to Petition...

The RMT London taxi branch will be petitioning the House of Commons after the 3rd reading of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill.

We urge all London taxi-cab drivers to ensure whatever trade body or union you are in to do the same. If you are not a member of a trade union/org please do join the only union capable and willing to do the hard work that is required to defend your hard earn right to "ply for hire" here on the streets of the capital.

Westminster City Council and Transport for London have failed to discuss this issue with London' taxi-cab drivers and have instead sought to ignore those who raise this serious issue with them. In a previous hearing at the House of Commons both authorities were asked to comeback to parliament with a licensing regime, this they have failed to do.

The RMT London taxi branch opposes "clause 19" of this Bill and the LTDA leaders of the united trade group and followed by the union UNITE and the LCDC seem to be a little confused has to what campaigning for a BAN actually means or involves. If you seek a BAN of pedicabs/rickshaws from the public highway you don't allow a bill to pass through Parliament that will give pedicabs/rickshaws "RANKS" and the respectability they so desperately require.

3rd World dangerous transport has no part to play in a first world city like London.

Time for you the London taxi-cab driver to join the only union/org prepared to defend you and your trade. Join the RMT...

Why not Join us ?

RMT "No to 19"

What a pleasant change to see TAXI newspaper inform the trade that they were "hammering" the rickshaws at the Chelsea flower show.

We should praise good work when we see it done on behalf of the Taxi trade and the RMT London Taxi branch would like to congratulate the LTDA for the good work they did last week at the Chelsea flower show.

Now we would like to publicly ask the LTDA to join the RMT and its London Taxi branch and object to "clause 19" of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill.

This bill and specifically "clause 19" will empower local authorities and Transport for London allowing them to appoint/create "bays/ranks" for pedicabs/rickshaws. Oh by the way still waiting to hear from Martin Low re that meeting you promised ?

If this bill which will be represented on the 10th June 2010 progresses through Parliament and becomes law in its present form you and I will be ranking next to rickshaws/pedicabs. So we at the RMT have a very simple question to ask of the LTDA (leaders not followers of the United Trade Group)...if you wish to build on the great work you did at the Chelsea flower show why will you not object to "clause 19" of this bill which will be placed before Parliament?

Remember that rickshaws;

1. offer no impact protection to passengers or riders.
2. discriminate against people in wheelchairs.
3. offer no place for assistance dogs.
4. slow other means and mode of transport and therefore negate any "green" benefit.
5. block the public highway and are a general nuisance in the West End of London.
6. rip passengers and tourists off.
7. rickshaws/pedicabs are a 3rd world method and mode of transport.

We can talk till we are blue in the face about banning rickshaws/pedicabs from the public highway but before we can even attempt to do this we must kick "clause 19" of this bill well and truly into touch. Join the only trade union/association that is prepared to do the work that is needed to protect your hard earned privilege and right to "ply for hire".

JOIN the RMT London taxi branch and save your trade and your families future. www.rmt.org.uk

Chelsea Flower Show and the Ranks of Rickshaws...

The menace of 3rd world transport transport descended on the Chelsea Flower show and whilst these objects plague the streets and roads of the capital it seems that the authorities choose to ignore the problems they create.

The London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill is promoted by TFL and Westminster City Council both of these parties have indicated that they wish to revive the bill in this new session of Parliament.

All London Taxi-cab drivers should note that the RMT London taxi branch is opposed to "clause 19" which seeks to give TFL and Borough councils the authority to appoint bays/ranks for pedicabs/rickshaws under a "voluntary registration scheme". A previous bill was rejected by Parliament and TFL/Westminster City Council were asked to go away and come back with a licensing regime for pedicabs/rickshaws. It appears that TFL/Westminster City Council have failed to do this.

In light of the recent death in Scotland and other serious injuries recorded by Lothian and Borders Police force plus TFL's own information regarding accidents involving pedicabs/rickshaws that the time has come for the Mayor/chair of Transport  for London to scrap "clause 19" and seek a ban on 3rd world transport.

We ask these simple questions of Mayor of London Boris Johnson;

1. Where do you place the wheelchair ?
2. Where do you place an assistance dog ?
3. When did TFL/Westminster City Council crash test these unsafe objects known as pedicabs/rickshaws ?
4. Why does Transport for London fail to appoint much needed Taxi-cab stands/ranks for the Taxi trade but seeks legislation to give valuable road space to dangerous 3rd world transport ?

The London Taxi branch of the RMT specialist transport union will be asking the new Transport Minister these questions too and we look forward to sensible open honest dialogue with all concerned parties.

London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill...

The above named bill may well be returning this Parliamentary session, and the battle to rid the capitals streets of these death traps.

A young man died of injuries recently after a fall from a pedicab/rickshaw in Scotland. Accidents here in the capital regularly occur but it appears the London ambulance service doesn't keep records of specific road traffic accidents involving pedicabs/rickshaws.

In the last Parliamentary session a private members bill failed to make progress and members should note we the RMT and our Parliamentary team were on standby to deal with the many clauses of this proposed piece of legislation.

Now the LLA & TFL (no.2) Bill can and may well be revived this Parliamentary session. If this happens the bill will be fast tracked to the point where it was before Parliament closed for the recent general election to take place. What is now important for the London Taxi trade is that all organisations petition against "clause 19" of this piece of legislation. Once this bill receives a 3rd reading in the House of Lords we will have a ten day window to petition the House of Commons.

Say No to 19 and protect your right to "ply for hire" here in the capital...