Mailshot is your chance to
tell the subscribers of Dial-a-Cab exactly what you think. Complaints, compliments or just
to write about Call Sign. This is YOUR paper within your magazine....
You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.com
AN OPEN LETTER TO BRIAN RICE ON NEW TERMINALS
It was interesting to be shown a demonstration of the new terminal at the
AGM. It looks to be a first class product. Regarding the fitting and
allocation of the terminals, is it still your intention of allocating the
first tranche of the terminals to drivers who have the highest current,
number of jobs to their credit? The reason that I ask the question is that
Tom Whitbread said at the demonstration that a criterion for allocation
has not yet been decided. Is it is still the case that your original
criteria is still under option? If so, I would like to comment on the said
criteria. It could be that some drivers that have been on the circuit for
many years would find themselves at the rear of the queue for a fitting.
The reason that this could be so, is that they may not have the same
imperative or capacity to work as hard as a younger driver.
I would argue that long service to the Society should be the
prime criteria under consideration. My argument is that subscribers of
many years standing have been instrumental in contributing to our current
success. They have held an allegiance to the Society through the lean
times as well as the times of plenty. Another first choice for fitting
should be those drivers who bothered to turn up at this years AGM and show
an interest in the Society.
I would welcome your opinion on the matter.
Maurice Haben (G17) ...via email
Brian Rice replies:
We originally intended to fit the new equipment to the cabs that do the
most work then gradually work down the list until everyone was fitted.
However, I do take your point regarding the older members and I can
understand your logic, but circumstances will probably dictate how we fit
the new equipment. We have had bespoke brackets designed for the new
equipment together with new meter interfaces (terminal connected to the
meter). Bearing in mind how many different types of meter and taxis we
have, we have progressed further with some types than others, so as
equipment becomes available for different types of meter and taxi, that
will determine in which order we fit.
DAVID TODD-HUNTER
I would like to offer through Call Sign, my condolences to the
family of David Todd-Hunter who passed away recently. He did much to
promote the Cab Trade and Dial a Cab - who generously sponsored him with
his music. He was a character that the trade will miss. May he rest in
peace.
Peter Murphy (A35)
So say all of us, Peter. I well remember speaking to David when he was
putting the taxi trade's first orchestra together. A real nice guy...Ed
MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE?
I have been with ODRTS for nearly 30 years and every one of those
years I'm asked by my wife: "Can we go to the dinner and ball this
year?" Could you give me some information about the aforementioned
for this year and is it possible to get tickets for same.
Roy Martin (R42)
Brian Rice replies:
As you are probably aware we had a Summer Ball for clients last year and
it was a tremendous success, we will probably do something in the not too
distant future for both members and clients. However, nothing has been
decided at the moment, but when it is you will be the first to know
provided your wife promises me the first dance...
|
AGM
On February 20th I witnessed the results of 'franchising'
hundreds of members who did not attend the AGM but are £50 better off by
casting postal ballots without hearing any debate for or against the
various proposals. I personally felt that my vote carried very little
weight on the day as many decisions were carried by the postal ballot
alone. This does not bode well for future AGM's or their attendance.
Democracy wears some strange hats these days...
Pat France (A81)
It should be pointed out that the voting in the hall decided the most
important proposition of the meeting. I've said it before (and will no
doubt say it again), although I am in favour of giving members the option
to vote, I find it sad that there are so many who just don't want to go to
an AGM for any reason. I also found it rather strange that over 200 postal
voters objected to the change of one word in the rules (from registrar to
scrutineer) without needing to ask a question. Perhaps someone can
enlighten me...Ed
LONDON TAXI BOARD
I feel I must strongly disagree with Brian Rice's comments
regarding the London Taxi Board, especially in regard to the following
issues:
I am strongly heartened by the resignation of the LTDA from
LTB as an indication that a driver's representative body has at last
dissociated itself from an unrepresentative body on an issue crucially
affecting drivers. What Brian Rice reports on the issue and what he feels
over the
maintenance of Knowledge standards maybe completely irrelevant when the
LTB proposals are made, as manufacturers and proprietors sit on this body.
Brian cannot have it both ways - the LTB is a supposedly loose federation
precisely because there is no accountability there. This fact makes it
doubly dangerous as it is "recognised by the government."
I, as a driver, do want the driver's representative
organisations to fight their own corner as the historical success of the
LTB in this respect is at best minimal and at worst invisible. The 'rosy'
scenario of the LTB uniting the taxi trade is ludicrous. For drivers, it
is the equivalent of the TUC uniting with the CBI to press the government
to decrease working hours and increase pay. In many instances, drivers
interests do not coincide with proprietors, manufacturers or sometimes
even radio circuits e.g. the Victoria Coach Station dispute when radio
circuits were
despatching work from the area while thousands of drivers gave up time and
money to further the trade's long term cause.
Brian Rice is elected as chairman of a radio circuit and ably
tries to represent that circuit's interests. The LTDA is elected to
represent driver's interests and do not require advice from other groups
on how best to do this.
K.S.McLean (F87)
Brian Rice replies:
What an excellent letter, but I can see this is a subject where you and I
will have to agree to disagree. I would like to use your analogy regarding
the TUC (Driver Organisations) and CBI (Manufacturers, Proprietors, J RTA).
The TUC would go to the government with their ideas for the future, the
CBI would then make a visit to government with their proposals, the
government would then sift through the arguments from both sides and come
up with their decision after playing one against the other. Would it not
be better if the CBI and TUC sat down together before their visit to
Government, worked out their plans and gave a joint proposal to the
authorities on which they both agreed? The Government would then have very
little room for manoeuvre as all parties are in agreement before any
discussions took place; it seems like a logical solution to me. |
THE
TX1, JAMIE BORWICK AND SAN FRANCISCO
Drivers at Dial-a-Cab may like to know at that I have a TX1 in San
Francisco! Jamie Borwick gave it to me on his recent visit to SF. It's a
neat little Corgi model with a ramp that pulls out, and jumpseats (is that
what you call them?) that fold down. He was in town for some reason and
emailed me with an invite to chat, courtesy of a reference from Terry
Smythe (who I believe visited Dial-a-Cab last year some time). Also
present was Taxi Commissioner Mary McGuire and Mark Gruberg to join Mr.
Borwick for tea at his hotel. No earthshaking news, just an enjoyable
discussion of things-taxi in general. Mary got him to agree to come back
to address the San Francisco Taxi Commission, possibly this summer.
I carry the TX1 model around in my jacket pocket and show it
to other drivers...old hat to you, I suppose, but everyone here is
absolutely fascinated by the thing.
There was one humorous moment when the tea arrived. It was an
assortment of tea bags from one of the trendy tea companies around
here...things like Purple Passion, or some such. Mr. Borwick became
visibly distressed as he sorted through the lot and called room service
saying: "There's no English tea here!" Quickly fixed, but that's
life in the provinces for you...
Charles Rathbone
San Francisco, Cali. ... via email
Charles Rathbone wrote about taxi life in San Francisco for Call Sign in
September 1997. Incidentally, having been invited to take tea with Jamie
Borwick at the Garrick club several years ago, I can confirm that he won't
put up with a cup of Ty Phoo! ...Ed
CALL CENTRE PROBLEMS
In the February issue of Call Sign, Allen Togwell told how, on his arrival
at City Airport, he could not get through to the office to order a taxi
and was then turned down by a driver who did not wish to do credit work.
He then goes on, quite rightly, to berate drivers who are short sighted
and damage our reputation by this sort of attitude. Without wishing to
excuse the driver in any way, attention should also be paid to operations
in the call centre. Why couldn't Allen get through to the switchboard? We
know that this was not a one-off occasion as so often we hear from account
customers complaining about long delays in getting through. Cash customers
are in an even worse position. Why aren't more call takers on duty?
Work over the radio has increased greatly over the last 2
years (thank you Allen). How many extra people are employed to deal with
ring outs to cover this extra work? How many extra staff are employed to
deal with the queries on the voice channel resulting from this additional
work?
Why do we still get job details with obvious mistakes? Flat
numbers missing or house numbers of 14 or 16 instead of 40 or 60 when call
takers should double check for this type of possible error? I know that
most call takers work very hard and do a great job and often the fault can
be with clients who do not speak clearly or are not even sure themselves
where they are; but prompting and checking from our staff should eliminate
many errors. If call takers do not have time to check because of pressure
of work, this is a management failing, not the fault of call taker, driver
or passenger. Why do so many jobs carry the instructions 'AAR' and 'Make
own contact'? It must be one or the other!
Yes, some drivers are at fault. Some do unnecessary ring outs
instead of walking 10 yards to press a bell, while others do not read
details properly. We should allow for these drivers and have sufficient
back up in the control room to cater for such mistakes. Why not identify
perpetual dullards and offer retraining? If procedures in the control
room |
