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Call Sign July 2011
green badge holders that intimidation of yel-
the forecourts at 50p per litre the Government
low badge holders will not be tolerated! How
will lose a large amount of their tax take. Then
can they start to lay down the law before the
it won't be long before they simply raise the
system has started and when there is absolute-
revenue on these products to regain their loss-
ly no evidence that anything has or will hap-
es, thus costing the same as refined fuel, so
pen?
there will be no advantage. Remember when
I often work down at my local station,
LPG was 42p per litre? Then the more popular
which has yellow badges on it. Believe me, I
it became, the more the price increased.
think TPH should reverse their notice and I
Even if we went back to the steam driven
have evidence to support that. The Dial-a-Cab
car, the government would make the water
logo is a giveaway and I have been told to "go
available from special water filling stations
back to town" a number of times. In fact one
only and it would have to be dyed green with
passenger said that local drivers often tell her
fines dished out for those using red dyed
not to tell a green badge where to go if they
water instead! You guessed it, we're not gonna
Most would have noticed by now that to go
don't know! The other Saturday I got a taxi
win!
along with the many taxi trade organisations
from Waterloo Station to Borough High Street
we already have, there is now another called
And...
with the driver taking me up Waterloo Rd and
the UCG. I am all for people getting together
down Stamford St. He wasn't wearing his
Over the years I have always thought the PCO
to get things done in union and showing soli-
badge. All I can say is the quicker the identi-
- now TPH - were always pretty fair in their
darity, but it doesn't matter how well inten-
fiers come in, the better...
approach to us. In light of the fact that green
tioned this latest group is, it's not what the
/ yellow badge identifiers are on their way, I
trade needs right now.
Richard Potter (T51)
was somewhat amazed to find TPH telling
On the run up to last Christmas, the RMT
held a number of strikes along with the TSSA
Leytonstone `Log Cabin' saved!
union in response to the London
Underground Ltd (LUL) withdrawal of a num-
Dial-a-Cab drivers who tend to work towards
ber of station staff. The RMT had legitimate
the east side of London, will be happy to hear
reasons for striking as it would leave some sta-
that the 24-hour food shelter, The Log Cabin
tions unattended, lead to job losses and put
in Whipps Cross Road that was scheduled for
public safety at risk. Well, on strike days things
demolition to make way for yet another new
didn't go according to plan with many services
cycle lane, has been saved.
running as normal. As taxis drivers we expect
Many taxis are often seen parked outside
gridlock, but it didn't really happen. The rea-
during the night, alongside staff from the
son for this was that ASLEF members were
nearby Whipps Cross Hospital. The plan was
working during the strikes because their mem-
to "improve the road for cyclists and pedes-
bers are drivers and not station staff and there-
trians" in time for the Olympics. Waltham
fore could not be balloted for industrial action.
Forest Council wanted the cycle lane but the
Mission acco
mplished!
Corporation of London, which manages
Since Margaret Thatcher, led by Norman
Epping Forest, refused to release the land.
Tebbitt changed the employment law in 1981,
A widely supported campaign began to save the Log Cabin and that has now led to an
secondary picketing was made illegal thus the
agreement, which enables it to remain in its position while the cycle lane runs in front of it.
RMT/TSSA were left to get on with it. The
Jamie Phillips, who owns the eaterie, said: "This is brilliant news. A few weeks ago I felt
result was that LUL brought in the changes to
like my legs had been cut off, but my livelihood has now been saved. I never believed it
station duties at the beginning of March and
would get to this stage."
the strikes stopped. So as a trade what can we
learn from this? Well we can have as many
union bodies as we like, but if we don't sing
Dial-a-Cab Credit Union
from the same hymn sheet we will be wasting
our time. We need to bury our differences
when it comes to the big issues, if we don't
Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about variable
the slide will continue.
At the roadside not far from my house, there
bank interest rates?
is a little white post with what looks like a City
Well wonder no more! If you are a subscriber, journeyman or mem-
of London crest on it. For those who don't
ber of staff at Dial-a-Cab, then you qualify to join the Dial-a-Cab
know, it's a coal post. In years gone by, rev-
enue collectors would stand by these posts
Credit Union. Any member of your family residing at your address
and take money from people who passed by
also qualifies for membership!
and wished to transport coal from one loca-
tion to another. Well the modern day equiva-
Then if you are over 18, have been a member of the Credit Union for
lents sell sweets, newspapers and litres of fuel
over 3 months and have established regular savings, you can borrow up
while collecting revenue for the Treasury.
to 3 times your total savings...
They occasionally throw in some petrol and
diesel in the process! With the cost of fuel
The cost?
these days, petrol stations may as well have a
big sign saying revenue collection point. Just
Just 1% per month on the outstanding balance (or APR of 12.68%).
think about the amount of revenue the petrol
Loans can be paid back early AND there is usually an annual dividend on
companies collect on behalf of the
your savings.
Government - and free of charge!
But the big talk at the moment is about syn-
The question is: Can you afford NOT to be in it...?
thetic petrol and diesel. Why has no one
Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585
thought of this before? Well the answer is pret-
ty simple; when synthetic petrol or diesel hits
