The Hilton Hotel
The boycott of the Hilton Hotel
ended on Saturday, June 17th at 8 p.m (after nine days, the
longest boycott in the trade’s history)
The management of the hotel, in
consultation with the L.T.D.A., mutually agreed on the following
points:
1. That a directive be issued to the hotel staff forbidding
them to recommend or advocating the use of any other form of
transport, when a person has asked for a cab or taxi.
2. That disciplinary action will be taken against any member of
the hotel staff contravening this directive.
3. That the management do not allow any mini cab advertising on
the premises.
4. In return, the L.T.D.A. have stated that they will
co-operate with the management in any proven complaints against a
cab driver.
After these points were agreed upon, the boycott was withdrawn. The
two gentlemen, who obtained the proof that instigated the boycott,
were two L.T.D.A. investigators. A copy of the press statement
appertaining to these facts is in the possession of L.T.D.A. And was
given to them by the Hilton Hotel management.
Readers are probably aware that the rank for two cabs at West
London Air terminal, in the departure section, has been discontinued.
This is purely because of abuse by a Of hotels was immediately informed, and within 15 mins, the manager
rang back with the news that as soon as the porter arrived for duty,
he would be sacked.
We would advise all cab drivers to discontinue the practise of
giving a gratuity to porters for long distance work, we have asked the
two major radio circuits to comply with this request, and we have the
assurance that ODRTS and Radio Taxis (Southern) Ltd. Will comply with
this request.
We are in contact with the Car Hire Association in a combined
effort to discourage the minis; we are awaiting a
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reply from both
associations. On
Tuesday, June 13th we were invited to a
meeting at the House of Commons attended by members of all parties, to
give our views on the present trade situation. This meeting was
chaired by Mr. Eric Lubbock and included such personalities as Mr.
Marcus Lipton and Miss Bessie Braddock, the lady in particular was
very interested as the same situation applied in her constituency of
Liverpool, and we were able to clarify a few points for her to assist
in the case for the Liverpool taxi drivers. The members present
appeared to be genuinely concerned with the present plight of the
licensed cab trade, and were shocked to learn that the trade. They
thanked the L.T.D.A. for giving them such a clear insight to the
problem and suggested we make immediate representation to Miss Alice
Bacon
Men. We do not intend these few, or any other few, to destroy the
future of the trade. They would be well advised to watch their step.
We had reports that mini cabs were hanging up outside Skyways in
Elisabeth St., Victoria, and the drivers touting in the waiting room.
We immediately telephoned the duty officer who assured us they would
be evicted.
One of our member was approached on the rank of a well know hotel,
by a hotel porter, who told him he had an airport job, but wanted £1
for the job, the driver refused to pay, and reported the matter to
L.T.D.A. the executive of the whole group
For permission to sit on the government committee of enquiry. They
promised to give us every assistance on any matters appertaining to
cab trade problems coming before the House.
We gave them to understand that we were not prepared to accept
"mini cabs" as part of a licensed transport system.
STOP PRESS
We have just received a letter from the Car Hire Association
requesting a meeting as soon as possible.
P.R.O. Dept.
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