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...