Call Sign August 2011
Page 6
Jerys
World
RMT taxi branch
rickshaw victory?
A sight we are all used to Pedicabs
parked on zig zag lines
Dial-a-Cab driver and RMT member, Eddie
Lambert (V37), has passed over to Call Sign a
letter from RMT General Secretary Bob
Crow that Eddie says means the RMT have
won round one in the battle against unsafe
rickshaws thanks to MP John McDonnell's
blocking of the second reading of TfL's Bill.
Mr Crow's letter reads:
"I am glad to be able to report that RMT's parliamentary group
convenor, John McDonnell MP, has successfully objected to the TfL
London Local Authorities Bill at its second reading on the grounds
that it would lead to the continued proliferation of unlicensed,
unsafe rickshaws clogging up central London
The RMT parliamentary group objection means that the Bill is
now kicked back and will have to be presented again for second
reading on September 6, at which point RMT will object again and
keep objecting until the final debate on the Bill is given. RMT will
use the breathing space to give us the leverage to force TfL to
negotiate on the revised content of the Bill and to take tough
action against the spread of unsafe and unlicensed rickshaws.
We know that rickshaws are unsafe and increase congestion and
that there are no checks on who is fit and proper to operate them.
If John McDonnell hadn't taken decisive action on behalf of RMT
"Taxi driving has changed since they let ladies in...!"
taxi drivers, it would have had dire consequences for passenger
safety.
The clauses that TfL was trying to bulldoze through made little or
no provision for statutory minimum standards or for checks to be
Keith Reading
carried out on the rickshaws, their riders or their operators. Nor
Professional Toastmaster
would there have been any provisions for any training to be
Master of Ceremonies
required or for compulsory registration.
It is shocking that TfL has refused to negotiate on this issue and
Tele: 01279 465 938
is ignoring recommendations from parliamentary committees that a
Mobile: 07774 860 374
compulsory registration scheme for rickshaws and pedicabs should
be explored. RMT and its parliamentary group MPs will continue to
Email: kgr.2@virgin.net
fight on this issue to defend the licensed taxi trade against this
attack on their livelihoods."
10% discount for DaC drivers and staff
With the LTDA also working to rid London's streets of the three-
wheeled menace, perhaps something will finally be done and pedi-
Fellow of the Guild of
cabs can be sent back to where they should be in London's
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parks...?
