Taxi union RMT have sent out a warning to BAA that they will not fall for stalling tactics after the company announced late on Friday that they are delaying their plans to undermine the black cab trade at Heathrow by allowing minicab company’s Addison Lee and One Transport to operate what is effectively a rank system at the airport.

RMT held a mass consultation with cab drivers at the feeder car park at Heathrow last week at which Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, pledged an all-out fight with BAA over their plans to deregulate taxi services on the airport.

There is no doubt that the big, angry gathering of taxi drivers at Heathrow on Thursday has forced BAA into this short-term climb down.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said today:

“RMT knows every trick in the company book and we can spot delaying tactics a mile off. BAA have made it crystal clear that their plans are only “delayed” and not scrapped. This is not unusual when a company is forced on the back foot and we won’t fall for the old “rope-a-dope” tactics.

“We will now be strengthening our organisation and our campaign in the weeks ahead to ensure that this temporary delay in opening the door to Addison Lee and One Transport is turned into a long-term victory with the plan killed stone dead.”