In this Olympic special edition:
TAXI UNION RMT today demanded that Olympics chiefs take a fresh look at their transport arrangements for the entire games period and that they factor in the crucial role that could be played by London’s existing fleet of licensed taxis
The “Get Ahead of the Games” site talks about the disabled accessing public transport but excludes the one vehicle that is fully "on demand" and disability ready, the London Taxi.
RMT’s Parliamentary group has submitted Early Day Motions on three issues that are very important to our taxi driver members.
Please take a couple of minutes to contact your MP to urge him/her to sign these motions. This will help our campaigns to defend our taxi driver members’ livelihoods (as well as helping the environment, congestion reduction and public safety!).
EDM59 – London Taxis and the Olympic Route Network
That this House notes the inevitable pressures on London's transport network throughout the Olympic Games; further notes that the Olympic Route Network is an important component of transport plans for the Olympics;
We note the correspondence from our London Taxi branch, outlining their objections to pedicabs, which include: lack of proper CRB or police checks; unsafe design; congestion; and lack of fare structure leading to passengers being ripped off.
We therefore accept our branch’s view that this union should campaign for a ban on pedicabs during the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and accordingly instruct the General Secretary to ask our Parliamentary group to submit an Early Day Motion, and to raise this issue with Greater London Assembly members.
From RMT London Transport Region Executive Janine Booth
INDUSTRIAL ACTION
The minicab company Addison Lee is losing its contract with the Government for private car hire, according to information received today from the Cabinet Office.
RMT Taxi Branch commends tfl for swift response to block Addison Lee for drivers from using bus lanes.
The RMT will continue to investigate the working practices of this company, the employment status of the drivers who we believe are employees under UK Law and bring such information to the relevant authorities for enforcement action.
TfL has won an injunction against Addison Lee preventing them from instructing or encouraging their drivers to use bus lanes.
The full text of the injunction is below.
The RMT London Taxi Branch notes the disturbing comments made by Mr John Griffin concerning London Cyclists, This once again demonstrates his complete contempt for other road users.
This statement and his continued instruction to his drivers to flout the law in respect of Bus Lanes calls into question Addison Lee's fitness to hold a Private Hire Operators Licence.
If TfL fail in their attempts to prevent these illegal actions, we will act and invite all trade organisations to join us in that action
RMT London Taxi Branch notes the instruction by Addison Lee PLC (A London Private Hire Operator) to instruct their driver to break the law by using bus lanes reserved for Buses and Taxis.
We demand that Transport for London (TfL) suspends the operating licence of Addison Lee PLC with immediate effect and rigorously enforce the Bus Lanes to prevent such dangerous and reckless behaviour.
The branch for the increasing number of London taxi workers who are joining RMT. You can read the branch's blog