Christmas Incentives
In the last issue of Call Sign, you would have received an
insert regarding the Christmas incentive scheme which the Board of
Management have introduced in order to improve the level of service to our
customers.
I have since spoken to several members who appear to be
unhappy with the scheme because they feel that it does not reward them
individually. Every one of the members concerned is a very good radio-man
and they feel that they cannot possibly do any more work in order to take
advantage of the scheme. However, the purpose of the exercise is to
improve coverage when the requirement for our services is at its peak. If
a member is covering as much radio work as he can, then he can't do any
more. However, we have hundreds of members that are not working to their
full capacity and if we need them to cover more work, then the best way to
make them increase their workload is to incentify them financially.
Whilst I fully understand the complaints that are coming from
the good radio men, if they wish to remain good radio men next year, then
we have to retain our account base. You must look at the big picture and
the long term benefits - not only for the member, but also for the
company. |
If the member that does not do too much account work
throughout the year earns a little more in the run-up to Christmas but we
retain our account base, then that is the price we have to pay. We cannot
tailor-make an incentive that suits everyone. However, I do accept
the fact that whatever decision the BoM make will be unpopular with a
minority of the membership, but at least we have made a decision and not
sat on our hands. We could have adopted the attitude that it is the
members work, if they don't want to cover it and we lose the account, then
that is their problem, but as a BoM we do not wish to lose anything and we
will do everything we can to retain our business.
Millennium Charge
The Minister of Transport has announced that the
New Years Eve/Day charge from 20.00hrs on 31st December through to
06.00hrs on 1st Jan will be |
double the normal tariff, excluding the usual £3 surcharge
which will now not apply on New Year's Eve/Day. The double tariff will apply
up to a maximum of £25, any amount above the £25 will attract a supplement
of £25 on top of the normal fare. The doubling of the charge will also
apply to additional passengers and any luggage.
The LTB (London Taxi Board) had originally applied for a
surcharge of £25 to be applied to every journey but unfortunately that was
rejected.
However, I believe that New Years Eve will be reasonably quiet,
especially with all the talk of the Millennium bug, most people will either
be at home or within walking distance or alternatively 'staying over'
somewhere.
It would appear that the majority of central London will be
closed from Old St in the North to Vauxhall Bridge in the South, Park Lane
in the West to Aldgate in the East, consequently travelling by road across
central London will be almost impossible. It is hoped that taxis will be
excluded from this but at the time of writing, it had not been officially
confirmed.
To conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all
members, staff and clients a Merry Christmas and an extra special New Year.
Brian Rice |