At long last the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) bill is on the move with a 3rd reading in the House of Lords last night (28.3.2011) which should be swiftly followed by the bill moving to the Commons and then a ten (Parliamentary) day petitioning period opening for the RMT London Taxi branch (and others) to petition against "Clause 19" which seeks to give pedicabs ranks/bays on the public highway of our beloved capital city under an unenforceable "voluntary" registration scheme.
The RMT specialist transport union were ready to petition our Parliamentary team when warned the bill was moving. John Kennedy (branch chair) along with Brian Whitehead our Regional Organiser and James Croy Political Officer of the union with fellow branch activists Tony Cook, David Little and Paul White will be meeting/preparing all the necessary paperwork/files ready for an opposed bill committee hearing in Parliament.
Pedicabs ranks/bays today will lead to mini-cab ranks/bays tomorrow. At night we all witness the illegal ranks of cars/mini-cabs outside bars/clubs and those in authority do little or nothing to protect our right to ply for hire. Look at the time and effort TFL go to when they seek to protect core bus revenue with teams of Police Officers raiding buses along with Revenue Protection Officers. Why no protection for the London Taxi trade !
Say NO to Clause 19 of the LLA and TFL (no.2) bill and join the RMT London Taxi branch online at http://www.rmt.org.uk/ or pop into George Vyse's Office at Great Suffolk Street Taxi centre.
RMT London Taxi branch "others brag we just get on with the work"
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Parliament returns...
Parliament is to return on the 10th of January and still the promoters of this bill have not sort to discuss/engage in any meaningful manner with regards to clause 19 which seeks to allow the Mayor/local councils the powers to appoint bays (ranks) for these dangerous objects called "pedicabs".
We read with interest the Taxi Private Hire Winter Newsletter before Christmas and was surprised to see so much information regarding advanced stop lines and the Mayor's £143 million bike hire scheme yet not a mention of the problems we in the London taxi trade face from the menace that is the pedicab.
However it was good to see that the LCDC have at last stated publicly that they will be objecting to clause 19 of this bill and let's hope all other trade organisations/union wake up and realise that to sit back and allow pedicabs ranks (bays) on the public highway will lead to the creation of bays (ranks) for private hire vehicles on the public highway.
Remember TFL have an agenda and however nice John Mason maybe over a pint/curry or maybe a plate of fish and chips he has a job to do that is dictated to him by the board of TFL and ultimately politicians who run London. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson can end this farce with regards to clause 19 by dropping it from the bill and then let us all get around the table and thrash out a sensible solution that satisfies all parties and protects our hard earned right "to ply for hire". Honestly this isn't rocket science just a great shame that those who presently sit at the "foldaway" table appear not to have the ability to be able to place sensible solutions before the people that licence our industry and run this wonderful city called London.
Place the pedicabs in the park where they belong...
We read with interest the Taxi Private Hire Winter Newsletter before Christmas and was surprised to see so much information regarding advanced stop lines and the Mayor's £143 million bike hire scheme yet not a mention of the problems we in the London taxi trade face from the menace that is the pedicab.
However it was good to see that the LCDC have at last stated publicly that they will be objecting to clause 19 of this bill and let's hope all other trade organisations/union wake up and realise that to sit back and allow pedicabs ranks (bays) on the public highway will lead to the creation of bays (ranks) for private hire vehicles on the public highway.
Remember TFL have an agenda and however nice John Mason maybe over a pint/curry or maybe a plate of fish and chips he has a job to do that is dictated to him by the board of TFL and ultimately politicians who run London. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson can end this farce with regards to clause 19 by dropping it from the bill and then let us all get around the table and thrash out a sensible solution that satisfies all parties and protects our hard earned right "to ply for hire". Honestly this isn't rocket science just a great shame that those who presently sit at the "foldaway" table appear not to have the ability to be able to place sensible solutions before the people that licence our industry and run this wonderful city called London.
Place the pedicabs in the park where they belong...
Friday, 12 November 2010
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 .
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 .
Saturday, 30 October 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
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...
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...
Friday, 17 September 2010
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.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
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...
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...
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