Fuel 'Rip-offs'
Well, well, well. Who'd have thought what type of month September
would have been and how the country all but ground to a halt due to the
absence of fuel. I just hope that you don't expect me to have any sympathy
for either London's licensed taxi drivers or the truckers who started the
whole business. Nope, all my sympathy is reserved for H.M.Government whose
coffers took a pounding with so little fuel tax revenue coming in
throughout the month. Perhaps HMG should consider a 'windfall tax' on all
vehicle owners and double on taxis with liveries or where the drivers name
starts with any letter between A and Y.
Am I being silly? I suppose I am, but it comes following
months and months of Editorial pleading on this page about how our fuel
tax was too high. Pleading that came months before the Daily Mail took up
the cudgels, followed quickly by the other daily papers sensing the chance
to sell more copies.
The last time this column brought up the subject was in July
when I said:
"I don't have much more venom to direct onto fuel
increases. I've said several times that I feel the petrol companies and HM
Government are ripping us off, but as no one else seems to care, I've
become the same as them. The trade press has stayed remarkably quiet on
the subject and I do not have a fraction of their clout."
No doubt the trade press are now joining in. I've had a few
drivers coming up to me since my last 'mention' saying how they agreed
with my comments and also wandering why our new found 'trade unity' didn't
do something about it instead of taking photo opportunistic turns at
picketing just one hotel. But generally speaking, most guys just paid up
for their diesel at whatever price they were charged, had a quick moan and
then went home. Joint trade action? Are you sure...!!!
Anti LTB Petition
Read the last two sentences again. It is for those very reasons
that I take little notice of the petition that was doing the rounds
recently. I've said it before and I'll say it again, most cab drivers
couldn't
care less about trade politics; all they want is the chance to go out,
take their money, perhaps have a quick moan and then either go home or to
the golf club.
I refused to sign the petitions on two occasions, so I assume
that it is safe to say that some with a different view to mine signed it
more than once? Even taking that as being more than just probable, there
is no doubt that there were a large number who signed the petition aimed
at ridding the trade of the London Taxi Board and replacing it with the
rest of the trade organisations who will no doubt work together tirelessly
without the arguments and back-biting that has marred any co-operation in
the past.
Why didn't I sign the petition? Well I didn't like the reason
I was given as to why the LTB should vanish ("...why should those
***** who make the cabs have any say in our future?"), but more
importantly I believe, as I've said before, that the LTB is currently the
best of a bad bunch.
Certainly it leaves much to be desired: Its PR is amateurish
and it sometimes appears very secretive. But its progress has still left
previous attempts at trade co-operation standing.
I also could not but help wonder how many of the quoted
"7000" drivers who signed would have still signed had they had
to queue up outside one of the trade groups office for even 20 minutes? I
bet the 7000 would have then been no more than 700 and even that number
would have been hailed a success when you look at previous
"joint" ventures. Remember the Victoria Coach Station demos
where drivers were picking up right in front of taxis who were operating a
drive-in against a minicab company who were trying to steal our work - and
who still do because of the majority who just shrugged their shoulders...?
Manufacturers on the LTB
I have nothing against the manufacturers being on the Board
- they are an integral part of our business - however, I don't believe
that they should have as many votes as the rest of the LTB. I also still
feel that the LTDA's withdrawal from the Board was purely political and more
to do with losing members than anything that the LTB had done wrong - you
must bear in mind that shortly, if not already, you will no longer have to
join the LTDA to join ComCab.
The LTDA has done more for this trade than most and still
continues to do so, but perhaps it wonders if it can survive if the LTB is a
success and it is within the group? Why else would the normally excellent
TAXI Newspaper put in silly comments about manufacturers paying drivers
during the quiet August period and how with the 'new shorter Knowledge',
future years would be even worse? It didn't sound to me much like Stuart
Pessok talking, so who was it? I wonder?
Drivers should be queuing up to have a trade body representing
them, be it for financial, legal or whatever reasons. Those same groups
should also be on the LTB...
After all, if the LTB vanishes, how on earth will unity come
out of what's left? It was the LTDA when on the LTB who used their veto to
stop the LCDC joining the then fledgling organisation. The T&G are
already on the LTB? Will they then want to revert to the previous situation
of mistrust between them and the other groups?
Unfortunately, this trade has shown over the years that it
doesn't really care about anything other than that particular day. Getting
rid of the first group to have made a political breakthrough in contacts
outside the trade will just prove it...
CALL SIGN AND THE 2000 AGM
The 2000 AGM takes place on February 4th 2001 at the Metropole Hotel. If you
intend standing for election and would like to give the membership an early
opportunity to question you, please send your election CV and a photo to
arrive at Call Sign by Monday October 16th. This is not the closing date for
nominations, but will give the membership an early opportunity to question
you in the November issue.
