A.G.M SPECIAL

CHAIRMAN REPORT        PETER FENNYMORE A79

 Let me say first of all that I endorse 100% the action of non-action decided on by the BoM over the last drive in of the JTC whilst I was on holiday.

We all know by now of the offer of 10% from the home secretary, and I will leave Martin Gellman C47, to fill you in on the moves of the JTC since then.

Some of you heard the announcement over the radio that the question of a surcharge to cash customers would be discussed in full at the AGM. We decided to leave it until then so that you would have the opportunity of hearing some of the advantages, disadvantages and possible repercussions surrounding such a charge, and I am sure you will all agree that if ODRTS is to take this step, the decision should come from the shareholders.

Mr. Spiro E79 asked in last months News & Views if the dummies had taken over.  I say most emphatically no, they have not. Mr Spiro is so wrong when he says Board members occasionally take a cab out.  They spend most of their time driving a cab and therefore know most, if not all the problems facing a cab driver.  No it is not surprising to us that half a dozen drivers come in for an Airport job, it is just worrying when nobody comes in for a short ride.  Because, if we don’t cover those jobs none of us will have the opportunity of longer rides.  You cannot expect customers to use us only for longer rides, or accept from us a statement that we have nothing in the area for a short ride, but we do have one for a long ride.

No Mr. Spiro, we do not expect you to sit in the traffic for £1.20 per hour; I am sure you know of and have taken advantage of the adjustment system.  What do we expect you to do is your fair share of the normal work, not to leave others to do what you call less lucrative work so that you can get all the longer rides.

No Mr. Spiro, again I say we are not dummies, we are a collection of cab drivers prepared to put ourselves out trying to secure a better today and tomorrow for the membership in general. We do not and I hope never will, cater for the get rich today and to hell with tomorrow type, there is a limit to what people will pay for a service, and we do all we can to see that drivers get a fair return on credit work, but we will not allow one driver to kill of the work for others by demanding an excessive amount for himself.

I must apologise for any inconvenience caused to you when we were unable to open the shop for payout.  This was due to the computer people, and not because I had a loan for my holiday! I also apologise for the break in transmission during the first two power cuts, a slight technical hitch in our stand-by equipment.

The tests we conducted on the 2 VI systems recently, went reasonably well and if they are able to make the adjustments and modifications we requested, it ought not to be too long before we decide on one or the other.

Our search for new premises is not going too well and we may in the end have to settle for our present building, but in the meantime do let the secretary know if you see freehold property which you think might be suitable.

As this is the last News & Views before the AGM and marks the end of my first year as Chairman,  I would like to say that I have enjoyed the job, that I appreciate the way in which the Board of management have co-operated with me, that I appreciate the efforts of all the staff of the way in which they have worked and for the way in which the majority of you, the subscribers, have helped to make my first year a comfortable one.