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THE EURO AND THE TAXI TRADE...
Do you ever get the feeling that the world is changing around you at
such an incredible speed that there is absolutely nothing that you can
do about it?
Those of us who have been around Dial-a-Cab for twenty or
more years have watched this Society progress from a small radio taxi
company operating from a converted house, using equipment that went
snap, crackle and pop at every opportunity, to the multi-million pound
business that it is today. There are some who still reminisce fondly
about 'the old days'. "Small, but friendly," they remind
themselves... "when drivers used to help each other out if they
had broken down."
Well, yes, there is something in that. The camaraderie
amongst drivers on ODRTS was something to behold. I remember one driver
running from Marble Arch to help me out with an airlock in Finsbury
Park! In all honesty, that type of help from someone you hardly knew is
unlikely to happen nowadays, but that isn't because Dial-a-Cab has
changed, it's because we are the ones who have changed.
DaC is now bigger and busier that we could ever have dreamed possible,
but the job is the same. We still pick up and set down
passengers. We still rely on passengers phoning us up. Yes, things are
changing at Brunswick House - but not at the speed that the world
around us seems to be moving.
One change that is looking more and more likely to be with
us sooner rather than later could be if / when we ditch the Pound and
move over to the Euro. If anyone out there wants to give his or her
view on The Euro, then fine, but I don't think that a taxi magazine
Editor should give an opinion on a subject like that. However,
the way the Euro is being pushed, the weight of public opinion seems to
be moving towards at least the possibility of us becoming members of
Europe's financial club, whereas not too long ago the popular belief
seemed to be "never, never, never..."
So, not wishing to be left behind, this month's Call Sign
is a "Euro Special." We have the views of our fellow taxi
drivers in several European cities, who as of
January 1st 2002 found |
themselves having to use a new currency. How did they cope? How did their meters operate? How much 'rehearsal' was there?
You can read their stories in this issue.
Also in this month's mag, you can read what Bank of England
Governor Eddie George thought about our chances of successfully
introducing the Euro into our taximeter system, when he spoke to Steve
Shaller (R75).
And just in case you want to try it yourself, Call Sign's numbers man Alan
Nash, has put together a conversion chart for drivers wishing to accept
the Euro. He has put together several different exchange rates for your
convenience and any driver who decides to use the facility, perhaps you
would like to write to Call Sign and let us know how you found the
experience.
Whether we finally accede or not, we cannot deny that the
Euro is no longer a game, but is now the second largest currency in the
western world behind the dollar. As such, Call Sign feels justified
in putting together this special issue...
MAD HATTERS
A few Sundays back (January 20th), I went to my third Mad
Hatters Ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel. I still find it absolutely
staggering that a taxi charity (in this case the LTFUC) can put on such a
magnificent party - one that filled the hotel's Great Room with the
laughter of kids whose lot in this world is not always a happy one and
which drew so many celebrities who appeared without charge.
The Committee of the Fund deserve a real pat on the back and
just because the Evening Standard and the like choose not to publicise
anything the taxi trade does that shows us in a good light, we have to
remember that these events are put on to give these kids a great time and
not to gain publicity - although it would be more than welcome!
At least five of the Fund's
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committee members are on DaC,
but Call sign congratulates each and every one regardless of radio circuit
or not. Well done guys...
RADIO TAXIS (LONDON) AND PLC
Having spent much of last month's Editorial slamming those who
had suggested via their posters at the railway stations that Dial-a-Cab
should not even discuss PLC, it seems as though these "DaC
drivers" who apparently put the posters up, not only wanted to deny
Dial-a-Cab drivers the right to discuss such an important topic should they
so wish, but couldn't even get the name of the radio circuit right!
A letter fell into my hands in early January, which had been
signed by RTL Chairman Geoffrey Riesel and which had been sent out to all
their subscribers looking at the possible future status of Mountview.
The letter speaks of diversification and comes out boldly to
say that they (the RTL Board) consider that their organisation will become
more efficient and successful by turning their members into stakeholders -
in other words to change the company's status to a PLC.
The cab trade being what it is, word has got around pretty
quickly. I have at the time of writing this Editorial (26th February),
already been approached by three different drivers - all on DaC - who have
asked to be able to use Call Sign to write anti PLC articles aimed at
Mountview drivers. My answer has been no.
In September 1997, Call Sign published a newsletter from one of
the trade organisations who were detailing their plans to
"convince" DaC that demutualisation was wrong. In my Editorial of
the time, I said that it was wrong for outside organisations to interfere
with DaC internal policies whether by leafleting our members or picketing -
as some did when we were attending a meeting to discuss the matter. I
believed that it was up to our drivers to decide - which they did.
My view hasn't changed on that and as such, I believe that RTL
must be allowed to put their own case without outside interference and that
in the end, their drivers must decide. Call Sign will play no part in that.
Alan Fisher |
