Cab Trade News Spring 2018

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INSIDE: Cross border hirings • The Knowledge • Charging up for success

Spring 2018 The magazine for taxi drivers

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Time for new legislation Dear Colleagues

Spring 2018 The magazine for taxi drivers

Contents 3

National Officer’s Introduction.

4

General Secretary’s Introduction

4

Knowledge of London

6

Help black cabs go green

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Cross border hirings

10 Glasgow report 12 Southampton report 14 Dundee report

These are difficult times for taxi drivers with threats to the industry coming from many directions. Whether it is Uber, cross-border hiring, new environmental standards or licensing authorities bringing in new rules. But whatever the threat, Unite cab section will fight to protect our taxi driver members. Over the last few months we have seen a number of encouraging developments. Unite's action against cross-border hiring is gaining pace as we continue to campaign for national minimum standards for drivers, operators and vehicles and for legislation to ensure private hire drivers start or finish their journeys in their own licensing area. Unite fully supports Sadiq Khan's refusal to renew Uber's licence in London and the Mayor needs to be weary of Uber's charm offensive to be relicensed. Uber have a history of this type of behaviour, and they are fooling no-one.

16 Cross border announcement 18 Time for government to control air pollution 21 Uber drops court case 22 Charging up for success 25 Heathrow flyer 26 TfL to ensure private hire remains safe 28 The way forward – change is coming 30 Unite education 31 Nottingham’s new taxi service

The last few months has seen the launch of the new LEVC EV taxi, and a fully electric cab based on the Nissan NV200 likely to be launched in the summer.

This projects a positive image of the taxi trade at a time when our members are coming under increasing pressure to meet stringent environmental standards.

Taxi drivers need more help from local and central government to enable taxi drivers to meet any changes that are coming. That means grants, proper choice of vehicle and a comprehensive charging infrastructure. We cannot have a situation where standards are made so severe that drivers cannot afford to stay in the trade. Rest assured Unite will be fighting to ensure that drivers receive every assistance that is required to meet this transition. We all support a clean, healthy environment, after all taxi drivers are amongst the most affected, but it must not be at the expense of our trade.

32 Mark’s Missive 34 Unite calls on councils to revoke Uber licences Bobby Morton National Officer, Passenger Services

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Cab Trade News Published quarterly by Unite the union, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8TN. Phone 020 7611 2500.

Editor – Peter Rose peterjrose@cabtradenews.org Phone 07903 525 520.

Magazine enquiries and letters to the editor, by post, phone, or email www.cabtradenews.org Distribution enquiries contact your regional office

Spring 2018

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CAB TRADE NEWS Comment

Sharing the Opportunities of New Technology The automotive sector has been a major success story of British manufacturing and our frontline workplace reps and stewards have played an integral role in shaping that success. The Automotive sector is a jewel in the crown of UK manufacturing.

No industry is static. The eventual demise of petrol and diesel powered vehicles and the emergence of electric, internetconnected and driverless technology heralds changes unseen since the end of the horse-drawn era.

Unite is clear. We want investment in new sustainable technology. We want to see high skilled, secure jobs on decent pay. We want to see the UK automotive sector hold its own against Germany, the United States, Southern Asia and China.

This technology will reshape the automotive industry, but not in isolation. Our union is strongest when members across sectors support each other and we must face these challenges together.

The potential impact of driverless technology to our transport sectors if left unregulated is obvious. We will defend the safety-critical role of the driver. Similarly a decline in demand for petrol and diesel poses questions for our members on North Sea platforms, oil refineries and behind the wheels of fuel tankers.

I welcome our document from Unite’s automotive sector (see page 22), which raises vital questions and ideas. This includes the need for industry-wide, legally binding safety standards to protect drivers and automotive workers before autonomous vehicles are allowed on public roads. Regulation, public scrutiny and safety standards are not ‘barriers’ to investment.

They are the only way to make sure new technology is safe, fitfor-purpose and socially responsible.

The biggest barrier to investment and innovation remains government inactivity. Without proper investment in research and development, public infrastructure, procurement and public transportation, the UK will continue to lag behind.

Our union does not oppose technological progress, but neither do we shy away from asking the difficult questions, we must answer them together.

KNOW OF LON The Knowledge of London remains a fantastic achievement.

An average of three years of learning contributes to one of the cornerstones which gives London the greatest taxi service in the world. It differentiates us from private hire drivers in London and most other large cities in the UK, alongside the purpose built vehicle and the fare tariff it is the cement that holds us together as a trade.

Most taxi drivers are proud of the commitment & hard work it took to complete, often including a helping hand from family and friends. The thought which kept many students going is the dream of working for yourself, the time invested would be reciprocated with a decent, well-paid job with control over working hours. That was the pact between drivers and the licensing regime.

The advent of new disruptive technology, such as Uber, as well as increasingly cheap satnav systems has raised a number of issues over the Knowledge in some people's minds, although if you see the private hire vehicle in front of you turn right out of Catherine Street into Aldwych and then proceed to drive for over seventy-five yards into the face of four lanes of oncoming traffic, it does make you lose your belief in the absolute superiority of satnav, or to check with Google maps and see it plot a route which can often add miles to a simple journey, then the value of the Knowledge shines through.

Transport for London (TfL) recently ran a workshop on promoting the Knowledge. They invited reps from the five main trade associations & unions. The presentation was very stark. In April/May 2014 there were 510 applicants to study the Knowledge, 465 green badge & 45 yellow badges. In September/October 2017 the numbers had dropped to 38 new applicants, 28 green badge & 10 yellow badges. There was an average of 10 yellow badges issued for the Suburban sectors each month in the last six months of 2017 & between 60 and 80 a month for All London licences. These figures do not consider any licences surrendered during that period.

Len McCluskey, general secretary

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Spring 2018

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BY JIM KELLY

@cabtradenews

WLEDGE ONDON What the figures show is a steady decline of student numbers attracted to studying to be a London licensed taxi driver. As the future of any trade must be based on new workers replacing old, the above is a very worrying development.

Of course the advent of new technology is one important aspect of the decline, two other reasons are: First, the continual flouting of our right to ply for immediate hire on London’s streets and second, to a much lesser extent, and following on, the negative comments by some drivers on social media, the ‘games dead’ brigade, who have been with us since the beginning of the taxi trade, but who find a larger wider audience with their ultra-negative outpourings on Twitter & Facebook.

Some ways forward that were agreed, and to look at ways of promoting the Knowledge. This led to an interesting exchange between older drivers and newer drivers over job expectations, with the newer drivers having a much more positive outlook than the older drivers present.

The idea of a new education accreditation for the Knowledge, with four options being put on the table were discussed as were the business side of the London trade financially promoting the Knowledge to the wider public.

What was clear from the meeting is that despite technological developments, the Knowledge is still a necessary tool for the job in London. That the London taxi trade needs clarity about our relationship with private hire, especially any abuse of that technology.

TfL has some new initiatives in the pipeline around private hire driver’s standards, as well as the Uber licence appeal due to be

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heard soon. These will all impact on the perception of people contemplating studying the Knowledge.

What was made very clear is there can be no dropping of our standards, no ‘quickie Knowledge’, and that these discussions need to be with working taxi drivers’ organisations and not the ‘vested interests’ of the trade.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the Knowledge of London should visit the Transport for London website and search, the Knowledge of London.

Spring 2018

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Tax break to help Black cabs go

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Britain’s black cabs will get a new boost to go green when a tax exemption for electric taxis comes into force this April. The exemption, worth £1,550, will apply to new cabs purchased from April onwards, and follows the Autumn Budget announcement that zero emission taxis worth over £40,000 will no longer have to pay a Vehicle Excise Duty charge.

Currently, all cars over £40,000 are required to pay this charge. By exempting zero emission taxis, it is hoped that cabbies will be incentivised to replace their old diesel taxi for a cleaner, greener electric version.

If just one switches to a zero emission vehicle, it would rid the country of seven tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. With over 75,000 black cabs operating in England alone, the impact this would have on the environment would be significant.

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Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond said:

“We’re backing Britain’s black cab drivers to go green.

“This is a victory for the environment and new technologies, which I am determined to support as we build an economy fit for the future.

“Ensuring the air in our bustling towns and cities is free from pollution is part of our quest to become the first government to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.”

CEO of LEVC, Chris Gubbey said: “We are delighted that the Treasury has brought forward previously announced changes to Vehicle Excise Duty for green

taxis. These measures will encourage more cabbies to switch to zero emissions transport sooner – meaning improved air quality across the UK.”

“A small number of drivers who already own the vehicle or are expecting to take delivery in March will still have to pay an additional £310 charge. However, LEVC will compensate these drivers to ensure that they are not penalised for being the first to make the transition to a cleaner vehicle.”

Traditionally, black cabbies have had limited choice in what vehicle they can buy. This has meant that until now, cabbies have been forced to pay charges which their competitors - who can choose more affordable vehicles can avoid.

Not only will today’s exemption save drivers from paying the VED charge but by transferring to a zero emission electric cab they will also benefit from, on average, over £400 a month in fuel savings.

This is part of a wider government plan to transform air quality in our towns and cities.

It builds on the £7,500 Plug in Taxi Grant, which helps cab drivers buy a zero emission vehicle.

And, at Autumn Budget, the government announced a £400 million Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund to support the industry to roll out charge points for electric vehicles across the UK.

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BY JIM KELLY

CROSS BORDE

Changes essentia safety for passen Serious public safety concerns after technological advances increase scale of cross-border hiring

number of licensing authorities across the country. They are:

Drivers can secure licences in areas where they perceive standards are lower but then work anywhere in England

To require all taxi and private hire journeys either to start or finish in the area in which the driver, vehicle and operator are licensed.

Changes to the law essential to ensure passenger safety and a national minimum standard.

London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport Val Shawcross has called on the Government to ensure the safety of taxi and private hire passengers nationwide by ending the potentially dangerous practice of cross-border hiring.

Currently drivers of taxis or private hire vehicles can work anywhere in England once they have secured a licence with a licensing authority. It means that drivers can apply to get their licences in an area where they perceive standards are lower, despite having no intention of working there.

Transport, Val Shawcross, has written to Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani to request a meeting at which cross-border hiring would be discussed. Now a report published recently

by TfL has made clear the need to drive up national standards across the taxi and private hire industries.

TfL and licensing authorities across the country view cross-border hiring as a serious public-safety issue that undermines local licensing regimes. It can create a race to the bottom in terms of licensing standards and significantly restrict the enforcement capabilities of local licensing authorities, which only have limited powers to enforce against ‘out-of-town’ vehicles.

This has led to a number of issues across the country including drivers with convictions for violence and sexual offences being granted licences elsewhere despite being refused one by a West Midlands licensing authority; a driver being refused a licence in Doncaster but working in the town after obtaining a licence elsewhere; and one authority licensing 1,000 drivers from their area but more than 6,000 from other areas.

The scale of the problem has also been magnified significantly in recent years through developments in new technology. In London, more than 1,000 drivers have home addresses in Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield, and TfL suspects these drivers rarely, if ever, undertake journeys in the capital.

Transport for London has called on the Government to introduce legislation to tackle this problem, and London’s Deputy Mayor for

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has made a series of recommendations in the report published today, which are supported by a

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Set high national minimum standards to provide a consistent approach to customer safety and accessibility.

Create national powers to ensure authorities can enforce national minimum standards in their areas, regardless of where the operator, driver and vehicle is licensed. This would be supported by a provision for data sharing, for example licensing decisions and conduct of licensees, between licensing authorities.

Consider the impact of these issues in Scotland and Wales, and work with respective devolved governments to ensure any future requirements in England are not undermined.

The Mayor also continues to press the Government for the power to cap the number of private hire drivers in London, a statutory definition of ‘plying for hire’ and what constitutes a ‘pre-booked journey’ to help enforcement and prevent illegal activity. Sadiq has consistently called for urgent changes and through his Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan he set out a series of actions to ensure high standards in the industry and that passengers are protected.

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TfL PRESS RELEASE

DER HIRINGS:

ial to improve engers Val Shawcross, London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “Cross-border hiring is a serious national safety issue that must be tackled by the Government. It cannot be right that drivers can obtain a licence in an area where they believe standards are lower, and then go to work elsewhere in the country where they feel they can ignore enforcement officers. It’s potentially dangerous and must be stopped.

We need the Government to pass legislation now that insists drivers start or finish their journey in their licensing authority and deliver a national minimum standard to help ensure safety of passengers.”

Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Licensing authorities up and down the country are concerned about drivers who get a licence in one area and then go and work exclusively in another area. Operators and drivers should be licensed in the areas they intend to work – as any other type of licensed business would be. This will help ensure passenger safety, as drivers know the area

where they are driving and the licensing authority can effectively take action in relation to any issues in their areas. Councils have been making the case for our outdated patchwork of taxi laws to be updated with a regime fit for the 21st Century. We need action on a range of issues, including national minimum standards, wider enforcement powers for authorities and a requirement for people to be licensed where they are actually going to work. The current regime is not fit for purpose – some parts of the law pre-date the internal combustion engine, let alone apps and smartphones – and it’s long past time we had a package of reform that brings our taxi and PHV legislation up to date.”

Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “Reading Borough Council welcomes the Mayor’s proposals and fully supports the principle that any journey must start or finish in the area in which the driver is licensed.

Over many years in Reading we have had to deal with large numbers of drivers licensed in

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other areas, such as London or Luton. A set of minimum standards for driver and vehicles would additionally provide consistency and promote public safety. National enforcement powers for enforcement officers would increase the ability of local councils to detect illegal plying for hire, and would thereby increase public safety.”

Helen Chapman, TfL’s Interim Director of Licensing, Regulation and Charging, said: “The legislation governing taxi and private hire services was drawn up before the dramatic changes we have seen in the taxi and private hire market over recent years. It is no longer fit for purpose. We have made a number of recommendations to Government that will bring an end to cross border hiring and the perverse situation where a driver lives over 200 miles away from where they were granted a licence with no intention of working there.

The reforms we are proposing such as national minimum standards, national enforcement capabilities and the need for journeys to start or finish where the driver is licensed, are urgently needed to ensure passenger safety nationwide.”

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Report

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At an initial meeting held in Glasgow last week, Glasgow City Council and Transport Scotland delivered a draft set of LEZ proposals. Quite disturbing was the revelation that big privatised bus companies, such as First Bus, will receive sizeable grants to retrofit old buses with new exhaust technology to achieve Euro 6. Given the buses are responsible for over seventy percent of the air pollution problem, the announcement that taxis

will only be able to access loans and not grants, does not sit well with the branch.

Unite for strength Considering the aggressive policies around air pollution, our cab section has approached the Edinburgh Taxi Association to discuss the merits of creating their own Unite Edinburgh cab section. Discussions were very positive, and it seems they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a moment too soon. Edinburgh City Council are looking to take a draconian step by implementing an eight or ten year age limit on taxis. We hope Edinburgh do indeed establish a cab section, as there are many issues beyond local authority boundaries that we can combine forces on. Unite is strength after all!

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Low Emission Zone Also on the horizon is an inaugural Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Scotland that Glasgow has â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the race to facilitate.

Vehicles entering the LEZ below Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4 petrol will face a

penalty charge. The stated aim is to have the LEZ in place by the end of 2018, with buses having to comply in phase 1 and all other vehicles, including taxis, to comply in phase 2. Timelines are yet to be established but the branch is greatly concerned about the impact on the trade.

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It has been a busy few months for the Glasgow cab section since the turn of the year, the taxi trade in Glasgow is under threat like never before. The branch is dividing its time campaigning on issues including: The illegal granting of a Glasgow booking office licence to Uber Britannia, the exponential rise of private hire vehicle numbers in the city, and the virtually non-existent enforcement of licence conditions and national legislation, especially pertaining to illegal plying for hire.

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Plane Saver Credit Union are a not-for-profit financial co-operative for the airline and transportation sector.

With the product now developed they are actively seeking example cases before an official launch, looking for individuals who are serious about buying a brand new Black Taxi.

Offering a range of ethical savings and loan products, it is one of the success stories of the credit union movement.

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BY STEVE FICKER

SOUTHAMPTON

Driver standards In a move to gain control over enforcement and compliance of the proliferation of private hire vehicles from all over the country working in the area, Southampton licensing officers are using their devolved powers, have introduced relaxed topography test rules in a bid to make it easier for drivers to licence in Southampton.

They say that removing the locations and junctions section of the topography test does not impact on public safety.

What has been seen, is a move by drivers licensed elsewhere to obtain a Southampton licence. Whether there is a significant increase in numbers remains to be seen, as Southampton has other licensing conditions, including expensive vehicle cameras which are not required in neighbouring licensing authorities.

Unite local cab section cannot see how reducing standards for the grant of a licence can in any way maintain or improve public safety. Southamptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new policy is currently under review and will be re-visited later in the year.

National database We are pleased to report that Southampton City Council amongst others has put pressure on the Local Government Authority and will be introducing a national database of suspended and revoked drivers. Whilst not a legal requirement to use it, it has the potential of preventing drivers being licensed in different local authorities if they have transgressed.

Mini Cabs In another move the City council is consulting on licensing three passenger seat private hire vehicles. The logic here is that the Tesla electric vehicle does not

meet the width requirement. And with the introduction of the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) due to be implemented next year the council is attempting to make it easier for proprietors to meet the CAZ requirements. In addition, they are also proposing to extend the working life of hybrid and electric saloon car, hackney and private hire from nine to twelve years old.

Age limits With vehicles working in Southampton with much lower standards in many cases, we cannot see why we still have to have age limits imposed, as long as the vehicle can pass the mechanical requirements it should be licensed. For example. The Southampton licensed trade is being undermined by this level of unfair competition coming from outside and is struggling to compete. New legislation as outlined in the Labour Party manifesto at the last election is urgently required.

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Approved Used N7 LONDON

17:05

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Report

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@cabtradenews

DUNDEE 0 0

-+./0 &-%//0',!0(/'.+*The electric vehicle policy set out by Dundee City Council, means only all electric taxis and private hire will be allowed to enter Dundee city centre by a certain year, reckoned to be 2020. We are still having discussions with MSPs and licensing counsellors to try to add hybrid and range extended vehicles into the current electric policy.

funding for individual operators and not just for the first purchase of a low emission vehicle, but for future vehicle purchases as well. As I have stated before, £35,000 over a six-year period at zero percent finance and then a vehicle that costs £55,000 with £7,000 from government you have to find another £13, 000 this is just not feasible.

sure our trade is properly funded and that our members will still have jobs, we cannot let the UK Government destroy the taxi and private hire trade with its low emissions policies. I am not against low emissions vehicles but the funding must be right to help the taxi trade make reasonable adjustment, and to safeguard our jobs.

All electric vehicles are not fit for purpose as a hackney taxi, saloon or wheelchair accessible type vehicles. We feel that both the Scottish and UK governments are pushing ahead with the electric policies with no regard for taxi operators and drivers.

If this continues, the individual taxi operator will be phased out, businessmen will take over, and we will all be driving taxis or private hires for them. It will also open the door for pirate taxis and private hire, all you need to do is put on a low emissions car and work the cities in the UK at the weekends when it's busy.

Also, if we cannot afford to buy these types of vehicles, the factory will close with the loss of more jobs. So we need to make sure that all branch reps get involved in putting pressure on their council licensing boards and MPs etc and use the full force of Unite to put pressure on the UK and Scottish governments, we need a national team of reps to arrange meetings with both governments before it's too late.

We at Unite have to put more pressure on both governments for the future of the taxi trade in the UK, there has to be more

Unite cab section reps in Scotland are determined to put up a fight to make

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Goeshere Charter TheHEADER Drivers’

BY JIM KELLY www.unitetheunion.org

UNITE DRIVERCARE – Protect Your Livelihood!

For all taxi drivers an accident, illness or injury could mean the permanent loss of their licence. And no licence means no job.

Additional Benefits

DriverCare Benefits

The Unite DCPC Course – only £39.99 per day

This is why Unite has developed DriverCare. It provides cover for drivers whose livelihood is affected by the permanent loss of their professional licence. It also provides other valuable benefits.

Drivers and their families can benefit from the following: £7,250 cover following Loss of Licence due to injury, disability or illness.

Up to an additional £15,000 if you join the Supplementary Loss of Licence (TopUp) scheme.

Up to £30,000 for death or permanent disability following an accident at work.

Up to £3,000 following an assault at work. £50 for hospitalisation following an accident/assault whilst at work.

Financial support for legal costs incurred while working as a professional driver.

Help with legal costs and consequential hardship following being charged with certain traffic offences.

Only 95p per week

DriverCare costs only 95p a week extra on top of the standard Unite membership contribution.

Unitetheunion1

Discounted Gym Membership

Provided by Fitness First, members get a reduction of £4 per month on standard club rates membership fee and the normal joining fee is waived. Visit www.fitnessfirst.co.uk to find your nearest gym.

Remember to show your Unite membership card when you register.

Unite runs courses at training centres all around the country so there will be one that is convenient for you. Each course is run by a professional trainer and is built around recognised industry standards. As a Unite member, you can take advantage of our special discounted rate of only £39.99 per day which includes all course materials.

Great Savings at Vision Express

Drivercare members can get big savings on glasses and eye tests from Vision Express. You can download vouchers from the Unite web site to obtain: Free Eye Tests

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For details go to: www.visionexpress.co.uk/unite

Join today

To take out Drivercare Cover, please contact your local Unite Office.

@unitetheunion

CTN Spring 2018.qxp_Layout 1 20/03/2018 12:17 Page 16

Uber cross-bor announcemen mirrors and a www.cabtradenews.org

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Hav Having a ing read and digested Uber’s recent av ‘Announcement’, it appears that they are about to redefine established geographical licensing areas from single local authorities into nine oversized and discretionary ‘Regions’. These serve no useful purpose, other than perhaps to try and placate, appease and 'soft soap' the very local authorities that Uber has spent the recent past riding roughshod over, and to go some way towards preventing them losing any more Operator licences!

Uber say that they will be: “Making some changes that we hope will help us work better in the cities we operate in.”

The salient words here I believe are... “help us work better”. As, despite Uber's later spin regarding the alleged 'raison d'être' for the changes as: “Some local authorities have told us that the way the app works can make it hard for them to do their job. One way the app can be difficult for them is by overseeing what private hire drivers are doing in their jurisdiction”.

By local authorities Uber means, ‘the people that give us our Operator licences’.

This will not assist Local Authorities or make it easier to administrate, inspect or control vehicles and drivers not licensed

@cabtradenews

by them. This does not relieve the legislative problem, it merely changes the nature of it!

For example, if you are a driver licensed in Southampton, you can still work crossborder in the usual Uber way anywhere in the south-east ‘Region’, including Brighton — some sixty miles away, the same follows for Yorkshire, West Midlands, Greater Manchester etc…

Apart from the usual over use of smoke and mirrors here, it is not for Uber to potentially undermine local taxi & private hire licensing (any more than they have already that is), by effectively trying to reshape the existing geographical boundaries, or indeed create new ones.

We believe that the spirit of the law certainly doesn't allow for the creation of a quasi Greater London (‘including surrounding areas’) Region. As the role of taxi licensing legislation and its detail rests fairly and squarely with Parliament and not Uber!

The existing licensing geographical areas, laws, rules and regulations are there to be observed by Uber and not potentially rewritten by them. Uber’s creation of oversized mythical ‘Regions’ serves only to further complicate, confuse and add more potential acrimony to a previously (prior to Uber's arrival) simplistic system of local licensing. It will do nothing to eradicate the spectre of Uber vehicles

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licensed in one area but operating in another many, many, miles away from enforcement and the prying eyes of their home licensing authority.

Uber states: “This decision will affect some drivers more than others, and we have been in touch with those who will be most impacted”.

Well, in a message on the Uber people blog, which appears to be aimed at private hire drivers licensed by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Uber says that the Greater London ‘Region’ will include other areas — including parts of the Home counties!? From the text of the message, it is clear that this ‘new’ region of ‘Greater London’ will (amongst other surrounding areas) include Reigate & Banstead.

The more worrying part of this lays later in the message where Uber states: “This means you will no longer be able to drive with Uber in Greater London and its surrounding areas using this licence from Wednesday 14 March.”

So let's break this down, what Uber seem to be saying is that from Wednesday 14 March, an Uber vehicle and driver properly and lawfully licensed by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, won't be able to work in their own licensed area?

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order nt: smoke, a bucket of salt

BY SEAN RIDLEY

Quite where this policy fits f ts into the fi legislative framework of the licensing laws of the country is frankly, anyone's guess! It is infinitely more complicated as many other areas outside London are now being moved into London by Uber.

All this ‘Announcement’ will do is potentially create another ‘spike’ of licensing with ‘soft’ councils neighbouring or on the peripheries of honeypot areas with more robust licensing regulations that certain drivers cannot or choose not to licence with. In effect, this will create a number of ‘Wolverhampton’ type situations nationally.

I also note an article in Sheffield Star newspaper, which seems to suggest is that Uber has itself previously advised drivers to get licences from elsewhere.

This, together with the creation of their discretionary licensing ‘Regions’, seems to show nothing more from Uber than a complete contempt for the legislation, the local licensing authorities and the national cab trade at large. Where this leaves passenger safety is again, anyone's guess? This ‘Announcement’ is nothing more than the usual Uber smoke and mirrors, and should be viewed with extreme caution and what's more, taken with a large bucket load of salt!

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Time for the to control air ---This year London breached its annual legal limit for nitrogen oxide (NO2) before the end of January. That was a big improvement on last year when the annual limit was reached within the first week of January. In the UK chronic air pollution and high NO2 levels are estimated to have caused over 40,000 premature deaths.

function and particulates are small solid and liquid particles, the most dangerous being PM10's and smaller particles.

These become suspended in the air and can penetrate and lodge deep in the lungs causing lung cancer as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

They are very unpleasant, and we are breathing them in every day.

We all know family members, friends and colleagues that suffer from asthma and other respiratory diseases. Most of London's improvement in air quality has been achieved by Sadiq Khan replacing polluting, diesel buses with clean hybrid and electric buses in the most polluted areas. But more action is required, especially from government.

Concentrations of NO2 and PM’s are at their highest in the centre of the road and reduce exponentially as they are dispersed away from the centre. Unite’s cab section recently took part in an experiment in which a taxi driver, cycle courier and an office worker were monitored for three hours during the working day, measuring their exposure to PM2.5 (fine particulate matter linked to many respiratory and cardiovascular diseases). It was found that the taxi driver had a far higher level of exposure, three times higher than the office worker and 1.5 times higher than the cycle courier. This is what we are being exposed to every day.

Air pollution isn’t just a UK problem, it’s a worldwide one. Almost every country in Europe breaks the European Union limits for nitrogen oxides. Even in the home of the diesel car, the German courts have recently ruled that German cities will be allowed to ban older diesel vehicles. Here ClientEarth have taken and defeated the government in court three times over their failure to take sufficient action to tackle air pollution.

As taxi drivers we face the biggest challenges, we spend our lives driving in the middle of the road. The centre of the road is the most polluted place to be with the largest exposure to NO2 and particulates (PM's). NO2 affects lung

All the results show that taxi drivers have a huge incentive to help clean up London’s air. That is why Unite cab section have been at the forefront of change and have done a great deal to help bring about improvements in London's air quality. But a lot more needs to be done. Unite’s cab section is calling for more government action to help drivers manage the switch from diesel to greener, electric vehicles.

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This means ensuring the £7,500 grant is available to every driver that wishes to change their diesel vehicle for an electric vehicle, not just the first 9,000 drivers. The government should introduce a national diesel scrappage scheme and local authorities should ensure that everything is done to help drivers in making any changes that are necessary.

The provision of a charging infrastructure network needs to be government lead. In Norway the government took charge of the move towards electric vehicles and now it has the highest per capita number of allelectric vehicles in the world. The Norwegian government incentivise drivers with a package worth £17,000.

It also includes an investment of well over 8,000 charging stations nationwide.

It is only through national government intervention, like that of Norway, that we can fully succeed in the transition to electric vehicles and dramatically improve our air quality.

Here in the UK it has been left to Mayors and local authorities to scrap over any potential funds, which has lead to a very patchy uptake. Some areas are very active in installing charging points whilst others show absolutely no interest. But despite this, change is taking place all around us. Many local authorities already impose diesel levies on parking for diesel vehicles and green

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BY MIKE HEDGES

government ir pollution zones are being introduced onto the roads of Islington and Hackney. Oxford is planning to ban all petrol and diesel cars from the city centre in 2020.

This haphazard approach is totally opposed to by Uniteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cab section.

There needs to be full government support so that taxi drivers can make the change from diesel to electric vehicles with the confidence that it will be affordable and will bring the cost savings that are so vital to make this successful. Doing nothing is not

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an option, our health cannot be allowed to suffer by continued pollution. But it must be done in a way that ensures the transition is a success. For everyone's health it must be a success.

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@cabtradenews

BY PETER ROSE

Uber drops TfL English language court case !/)0$,(0%)* /%0,-0, /,"0,#,+-(. )/#&",.+*-(0 $+'$0 *&"%0)/ &+)/0,""0 )+ ,./ $+)/0%)+ /)(0+-0 *-%*-0.*0 ,((0,-0 -#"+($ ",-#&,#/0./(.0.*0 0(.,-%,)%

In November, Uber also lost an appeal against a ruling that its staff are entitled to workers rights. Last year a tribunal ruled that two of Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drivers were not self-employed and should be classed as workers entitled to the minimum wage, paid breaks and holiday pay.

The company said it would no longer fight the exams after Transport for London (TfL) amended its proposals, making the test more relevant to the role of a private hire driver. The test will remain at B1 standard using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

appropriate level is a crucial element of the high standards of passenger safety and service Londoners and visitors to the city deserve.â&#x20AC;?

Then in December Uber was declared a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;transport companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest court, the European Court of Justice.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan welcomed Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to withdraw the appeal saying:

Commenting on Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision TfL said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since 14 October 2016, all applicants for a private hire driver's licence have been required to be able to communicate in English to a B1 standard.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always said that if you want to drive passengers in London you should be able to communicate in English at an appropriate level.â&#x20AC;?

The judges defined that: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The service provided by Uber is more than an intermediation service. The ride-booking company must be classified as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a service in the field of transport.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

We are now looking at introducing an English language test which is more relevant to the role of a private hire driver but remains at B1 standard.

For example, including bespoke material with language and vocabulary that directly relates to the role and responsibilities of a private hire driver.â&#x20AC;?

Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spokesperson responded: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a welcome announcement from Transport for London. We support raising standards and believe that a new test focused on situations drivers may encounter makes a lot more sense.

This means we will no longer pursue our legal appeal.â&#x20AC;?

TfL added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe that the ability to communicate in English at an

Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appeal against TfL English tests is separate to the appeal of its licence, which will be heard later this summer.

Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s woes Last September, TfL refused to renew Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operating licence following calls from London MPs led by Wes Streeting and Unions including Unite that Uber was not a â&#x20AC;&#x153;fit and properâ&#x20AC;?operator. TfL ruled that Uber had shown a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to public safety by withholding information regarding driver offences from the police.

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The definition will require Uber to use only licensed drivers, as well as meet other strict regulations linked to health and safety and background checks on drivers.

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CHARGING UP F Unite’s strategy for the U The watershed news came just before Christmas – the number of fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the world’s roads has now passed the three million mark.

The global growth rate now shows that electric car sales are running at about a million per year which is being driven by government incentives in some countries, as well as the launching of new electric models and falling battery costs.

(see picture below) Len McCluskey was given a test drive in the new Nissan all electric Leaf with the latest pro pilot technology. He said “I thought this technology was coming, but it is actually here now! Unite intends to make sure we build the electric and autonomous cars of the future here in the UK.” Unite has also welcomed the new electric battery manufacturing plant associated with Jaguar Land Rover in the West Midlands.

vehicles, autonomous technology and future mobility – commissioned by our automotive sector.

Working with Professor David Bailey of Aston University and other industry experts, a team of senior union reps from the automotive sector have put together a strategic plan to boost the UK electric vehicle industry and to campaign and lobby for much more investment to be made in the technology here in the UK.

China is the world’s biggest market for electric cars and is now in the driving seat of production of electric vehicles and the necessary infrastructure of battery technology, charging points etc – with a number of incentives to buy electric as it tackles its own environmental problems.

Manufacture in UK Unite has been arguing that electric vehicles for sale in the UK market should be manufactured here along with the necessary infrastructure including battery manufacturing, recharging points, recycling of batteries and a new infrastructure of charging stations.

Unite members are already building the all-electric Leaf and Lithium-ion batteries at Sunderland, the new generation of hybrid engines at Toyota in Deeside and Burnaston, the electronic version of the iconic black cab being built at Geely in Coventry – and of course we welcome the prospect of building the new electric Mini at Cowley in 2019.

But Unite has recognised that much more needs to be done to bring electric vehicle production to the UK, and to make sure that the UK remains a world leader in the automotive industry with a world class workforce ready to meet the challenges of the next generation of vehicles including electric and autonomous cars.

On a recent visit to Nissan to sign a new operating agreement with the company

That is why Unite will be launching a new strategy to deal with electric

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The strategy proposes an industrial plan to secure new investment and remove the barriers to the next generation of vehicles.

These include public investment in research and development; investment in infrastructure including charging stations, the national grid, domestic lithium extraction and battery recycling facilities; to re-tool, reskill and develop the automotive supply chain; an

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BY TONY BURKE, UNITE ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY

FOR SUCCESS UK’s electric car industry integrated public transport plan with incentives for electric vehicles; positive procurement by local and central government and a national car scrappage scheme to promote sustainable take up of electric vehicles.

political will of the government to get behind the industry with a massive commitment that will enable the UK to go head-to-head with other countries who have already stolen a march on us.

While there is still much to be done with the technology and the understandable concerns and confidence in electric vehicles, Unite does not intend to stand idly by and watch other countries race ahead of us and it won’t be enough just to keep pace.

More investment vital Unite is demanding more investment in these technologies – just to keep pace. For example the UK has made some public investment – £400m in the last budget into research and development – which we welcome but only £80m has been earmarked for a charging infrastructure and £150m for low emission buses and taxis.

Compare this to the USA where the Obama administration invested $6bn in 2016 in the development of electric vehicles.

Recent figures also show that although the UK is the third fastest investor in electric car infrastructure across the EU, we are well behind France who installed 12,000 charging points last year and Germany who installed 8,000 connectors in 2017.

The UK installed under 3,000 public electric vehicle charging points last year, just ahead of Switzerland, Austria and Norway – countries who have significantly smaller populations than the UK. Unite’s strategy sets out the case not just for more investment but also for schemes to attract electric and autonomous

The document will also be available online – stay tuned to UNITElive.org for updates.

vehicles to the UK and there is much to be learnt from the experiences in Germany, Norway, who have developed a package of incentives for electric vehicles.

Following the dark days of a decade ago, the UK car industry with a world class workforce has been a fantastic success story. Unite does not want to throw that away by falling behind investment in the next generation of vehicles.

Unite’s strategy document will be available to our reps and members in the automotive industry and supply chain companies, as well as companies and MPs. We are working closely with a number of companies who have indicated that they intend to invest in electric vehicles and the infrastructure – but we need the

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I would encourage our members to read the document. Our team would be happy to meet with companies and our members to set out the case for the UK to continue to be a success story with a world beating automotive industry.

Electric Vehicles, Autonomous Technology and Future Mobility A Manufacturing Strategy from the Unite Automotive Sector

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Unite4 Heathrow

Working people need a 3rd runway

Unite backs Heathrow expansion for

• JOBS • A STRONGER ECONOMY • A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL

Join us Support the campaign – go to www.unitetheunion.org/Unite4Heathrow to pledge your support @Unite4Heathrow

Unite4Heathrow

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Heathrow Flyer

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Knowledge It never ceases to amaze me how adaptable and how willing to go that extra mile, professional licensed taxi drivers are. The Knowledge of London takes an average of three years when taking into account, work, family and financial constraints, amongst other influences. What has been learnt is nothing short of a degree.

TfL are looking at input on whether the Knowledge should be tweaked or left alone. Many driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; views are, that it can be enhanced but only in how it is implemented. Can computers be left to do the testing? Does the applicant need to drive around London? How will the applicant be tested for fitness of character if left with no examiner?

The Knowledge as it stands has produced a pool of 24,000 incredible drivers. They are competent around every situation and ask for no praise in return. Does the knowledge need to change? Whatever the answerâ&#x20AC;Ś colleagues, I salute you.

Heart stopping Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) are in discussion with Unite at the moment to provide a defibrillator and give training for first aid. Unite Rep, Danny Murphy has implemented first aid throughout his judo career and will take the lead on this.

It will be positioned in a prominent place and once the first lot of trainers are in place the word will be spread. In the meantime, anyone with a problem requiring an emergency response, please phone - 0208 759 1212. This will, we are informed, initiate a speedier response.

Signs are going up.

Candid camera The Marshals and Feeder Park Wardens have updated their Service Level Agreements (SLA) to make it more open and hopefully increase driver takeup. Anyone requiring more info, please see a rep.

Body-cams have been introduced and are being used on every terminal in conjunction with other cameras already

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sited. They are there to protect everyone.

The rank agents, the drivers, the passengers and any other member of the public. They are there as visual and audible proof of our professionalism. If there is a problem on the rank, remain calm and think things through. Is the job correct in address? Is the passenger showing signs of difficulty? Are you wellprepared in regard to compliance i.e. credit card machine or enough fuel? If you are on the rank, are you prepared to take the next job, if there is a problem the rank agent is the first port of call. The agent may call his manager and then escalate to the police. Once again source a rep if you are not satisfied with the problem.

To the point Electric vehicles have seven charging points but will have to pay full entry.

Unite are still pushing for parity with gas cabs but HAL are asking for more time to employ a system. There are other electric vehicles on the horizon, and we will be pushing HAL for incentives for us all.

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TfL to ensure remains safe, convenient www.cabtradenews.org

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A new policy statement setting out how private hire and ride-sharing services will operate in the Capital in the future has been published by Transport for London (TfL). The policy has been written in response to changes in the private hire industry and the many new services being offered. It has been designed to ensure London remains the world leader in regulating taxi and private hire services while maintaining the safety of passengers.

The Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) and ride-sharing market has been transformed in recent years as new technology has made it easier and cheaper to book rides through apps, resulting in a significant increase in the number of people opting to use PHV services. An increasing number of services are also emerging in London that include ride-sharing, in which passengers share vehicles and pay separate fares.

Current legislation was introduced before these technologies were developed and TfL recognises the need for clarity on what is now required to ensure the highest possible standards are maintained.

Helen Chapman, Interim Director of Licensing, Regulation and Charging, said: “The private hire market is unrecognisable from when current legislation was

@cabtradenews

introduced. The growth of ride-sharing and other advances mean that regulation has to be fit for the next decade and not the last. Our vision sets out clearly how we will manage these new developments that improve convenience for customers, while ensuring safety remains our top priority.

The document also makes clear that any new developments in the sector have to fit with the objectives of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.”

In response to a changing industry, TfL has already consulted on and implemented a number of changes to drive up standards and address safety concerns. We are progressing new regulations to assess private hire drivers and applicants on safeguarding, disability, equality and knowledge of PHV legislation as part of an enhanced driver assessment package.

We are also already considering proposals for consultation in relation to an advanced driving test, PHV operator fleet insurance and private hire vehicle signage. TfL is also considering the impact of removing the Congestion Charge exemption for PHVs and depending on the outcome of this work this could be subject to a public consultation.

TfL is now investigating what further changes need to be made to current legislation to improve private hire, including ride-sharing services, in light

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of advances of technology and ensure the safety and security of passengers and drivers. Any changes will be subject to full consultation. New regulations could include strengthened requirements for operators to:

Make a strong commitment to safety as a high priority, and to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of their passengers but also for drivers when dealing with difficult situations Clearly state policies and action plans for the prevention and reporting of offences and for clear, named accountability at senior management level for safety, reporting and protection of personal data Provide mechanisms to allow passengers to choose who they share vehicles with and establishing how passengers might be able to decide on this before accepting a ride Put in place insurance for the use of all PHVs with contingency insurance cover for ride-sharing and fleet insurance where appropriate The policy statement sets out TfL’s expectations for private hire and ridesharing services in London, and its principles will inform future consultations on specific regulations.

These will be designed with reference to

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e private hire e, secure and

FROM TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

the Mayor’s wider ambition for a safe, active, sustainable and efficient transport network for everyone.

To ensure regulation keeps with the rapidly evolving private hire sector, licences may be issued for shorter periods during the programme of regulatory reform. Any advances in convenience for the customer have to be accompanied by the appropriate protections for passengers.

accessible vehicles should be available to carry out bookings Data sharing – operators should share travel pattern data to improve understanding of their services

Other areas that form part of the worldleading vision include:

Driver conditions – operators providing private hire services should ensure that drivers are treated fairly, ensure drivers have appropriate and reasonable working hours including appropriate breaks throughout their shift and have clear policies and procedures to keep drivers safe

Enhanced accessibility – a minimum percentage of private hire wheelchair

General operation – operators are under an obligation to inform TfL of any

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changes to their business model in advance. Innovators should actively seek to improve the professionalism and standards of conduct in the industry Signage – consideration to signage in PHVs, including to ensure that they are readily identifiable and that passengers know that they are licensed and regulated

by TfL and can make contact to provide feedback or complain where appropriate.

A full copy of the policy statement is available at: tfl.gov.uk/tph-policy

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The way f change is For years there seemed no end to the bad news that has blighted our trade, but recent breakthroughs suggests progress and an opportunity to bring about real change for the better.

Unite cab section has been leading the campaign against cross border hiring for many years. The campaign has a number of key demands that Unite want to see enacted into legislation. There is a lot of support from local authorities, the Mayor of London and the Metro Mayors, as well as parliamentarians, who want to see the erosion of local control over licensing ended. Almost everyone agrees with Unite that local licensing is the only way to ensure passenger safety and to protect drivers living standards and conditions.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s decision not to renew Uber’s operating licence has sent shock waves around the world and resulted in Uber radically changing tack and going on a charm offensive. Whilst this is something Uber regularly resorts to at times of crisis, they rarely do it in a situation where they are a licensed operator. Uber clearly want their operating licence restored in London and have made a number of concessions which they believe will give them a successful result.

These include apologies for their past behaviour and a pledge to ensure drivers

are stopped from working excessive hours.

Although they are still contesting the issue of whether its drivers are employed

by Uber, which obviously they are, as the courts have ruled, and they’ve still to reveal how their app actually works.

So recently, we have seen, Uber have accepted the English language test in London, dropping their appeal. Uber announcing that they are reorganising their drivers into distinct regions of operation and an acceptance of the topographical testing and a likely driving test to be introduced in London for all private hire drivers. So why the sudden change of behaviour?

The way that Uber and many private hire operators have blatantly carried out crossborder hiring has led to an explosion of anger from many stakeholders, from licensing authorities and their representatives to parliamentarians, including some government ministers.

Uber’s response is to try to show they are a responsible operator, putting passengers and drivers first and allowing local licensing authorities to enforce their vehicles and drivers. But this is clearly nonsense, profit always comes first.

This is unworkable and is designed solely to try to take the pressure of their company and fool decision makers into accepting Uber’s boundaries. We already have local

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Spring 2018

boundaries which local authorities licence, how can Yorkshire be one boundary that puts an end to cross-border hiring, only in Uber’s world does this work. Unite completely rejects Uber’s approach and will continue to apply pressure to end cross-border hiring.

Unite’s policy of ensuring every private hire driver can only start or finish the booking in their area of licensing. It is simple and enforceable.

But, let’s be clear, we need new legislation that tackles all private hire operators to ensure they operate legally and without cross-border hiring. There are lots of Uber’s out there, either now or in the future, and they need to be forced to apply legislation that works in the interest of passengers and drivers.

This can only work with the inclusion of national minimum standards for taxis and private hire. With Uber’s acceptance of a B1 Level English language test, this sets a precedent that this is the minimum level of English required. National minimum standards, which can be added to by local licensing authorities, should include an enhanced criminal records check, Group 2 medical, topographical testing, an advanced driving test, and disability awareness training. This will drive standards up across the country and stop much of the incentive for crossborder hiring that exists today.

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BY MIKE HEDGES

forward – s coming Unite cab section will continue to lobby and engage with the government, local authorities and all stakeholders to ensure that the dangerous practise of crossborder hiring is stopped. The localism of

licensing that exists in today’s legislation needs to be strengthened and enforced by new legislation putting the interests of passengers and drivers above that of a few, profit driven private hire operators.

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Spring 2018

We are moving in the right direction and Uber’s recent actions show that we can be successful in making change for the better.

UNITE TAXI

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regulations which cover all the do’s and don’ts for the Hackney or private hire driver / operator.

The project has evolved from a basic delivery model to an enhanced delivery model that has earned us the accreditation of Pearson EDI’s top centre in this field. By using our purpose built Training Cab for assistance and CCTV cameras for observation as well as many other assessment methods we can get the best out of the candidates and at the same time achieve the highest possible level of Education.

Unite Taxi Education has been delivering both the VRQ in the Introduction to Taxi and Private Hire Industry (QCF) and the Road Passenger Vehicle Driving Taxi and Private Hire (QCF) qualifications for the past nine years. Originally it was a three month trial but we are still going as strong as ever almost ten years later. The delivery of these courses has benefited drivers throughout the country.

In this period we have completed over 9,000 VRQ, NVQ’s (QCF’s) and our

course delivers all the information a driver needs to protect themselves and their passengers. The course structure is set out so it best suits the driver by trying not to impact on their daily routine. The course covers health and safety, road safety, customer services, vehicle maintenance, routes and fares, transporting parcels and luggage, transporting children including safeguarding, transporting passengers who need assistance including wheelchair accessibility and finally

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Our Education Centre at Bute Street, Liverpool has three computer suites / classrooms and a classroom for delivery only. We also have the main office and a Library where we can conduct guided discussions in private.

All our assessors have A1 awards in Assessing Candidates and PTTLE’s. We have 5 Onsite IQA’s and all our policies and procedures are in place.

As part of the education structure of Unite the union we strive to deliver the best education package possible so that everyone who learns with us leaves with the ability to competently carry out their duties in whatever field they are employed in.

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BY FROM NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

All hail Nottingham’s new taxi service! *..+-#$, 0 +. 0 *&-'+"0+(0., +-# (./ (0.*0 , /0.$/0'+. (0$,' -/ ',!0 "//.0*-/0* 0.$/0!/(.0,-%0 *(. *%/)-0+-0.$/0'*&-.)

Hackneys will still be able to be hailed in the street or caught at one of the city’s taxi ranks, while minicabs will continue to need booking in advance.

The council is carrying out a range of activities to make it appealing for taxi drivers to convert to ULEV – with fuel cost savings of up to £100 a week a big incentive: A dedicated taxi charge point network in eight locations will start to be developed across the conurbation from this spring.

A bus lane exempting ULEVs along Daleside Road will be complete soon Some ULEV only taxi ranks and a dropoff point in the new Broadmarsh car park are being considered.

Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services, Councillor Toby Neal, said:

Having already introduced a Driver Improvement Penalty Point Scheme to drive up standards for passengers, the council will be placing orders for a small number of stylish new Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) models and investing in supporting charging infrastructure.

A smart new black-and-white livery will replace the existing green cabs, as well as for the first time allowing full wrap advertising and new digital media on the cabs. The aim is for all 411 hackney cabs in the city to be ULEV or Euro VI by

2020 to help the city achieve air quality standards and support any potential Clean Air Zone. Some of the cabs will have free Wi-Fi, mobile phone and laptop charge points.

Accompanying the introduction of new vehicles is the roll-out of a new hiring app for Nottingham’s hackneys. The City Council has teamed up with MyTaxi which allows passengers to book a hackney from their smartphone, use cashless payment and have their journey and driver logged – making it easier and safer for everyone.

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Spring 2018

“For too long, taxis have been the poor relation in Nottingham’s integrated transport network. That’s all changing now, with better customer standards, smart new vehicles and a brand-new app to make it safe and easy for modern passengers to use the city’s large fleet of hackney cabs. This is a really exciting transformation of taxi services in our city."

“It means we will no longer have cabs churning out exhaust fumes while sitting in the rank, so it benefits everyone in the city, not just taxi passengers. It ties in with our investment in the tram system and in one of the largest fleet of green buses in the UK to help improve the air quality in Nottingham. The new app will really help to bring hackneys into the 21st century as it gives passengers a great deal of confidence about journey safety as well as making it simple to book a cab.”

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Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mi

@cabtradenews

0

,+)'&.(0 !)*,

Mediterranean produce and absorbing a jewel of an island. A little over three months later Dave sadly lost his battle with cancer. You are a long time dead, so grab any chances that come your way. No one on their deathbed ever says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I had spent more time at work.â&#x20AC;? Cheers David, it was always magnificentâ&#x20AC;Ś

Hoi An, Vietnam, 16 January 2017 In January 2017 when it was bitter and cold in London I had the good fortune to escape to Vietnam for a two week cycling holiday. This was my first time in Southeast Asia and quite

Barbering is a great skill and a craft which is possible to practice wherever you may find yourself living; a truly mobile occupation. Unlike taxi driving, which keeps you mobile, but static, in the same town or city. Cab driving has the hurdles of learning the topography of your location and the compliance of local licensing laws. Cab drivers know their areas; however they are pretty much confined to a career in the same place. Barbering has the opportunity to take you round the world providing you can obtain a work permit.

By way of a little fun in 2017, and my word do we need a little fun, with the mad times we are living through; so, whenever I travelled abroad in 2017 I tried to make a point of visiting the barbersâ&#x20AC;Ś It is always a good way to immerse yourself into the culture and put some cash into the local economyâ&#x20AC;Ś Here is how a hair raising travelogue turned outâ&#x20AC;Ś I realise this article may appear somewhat flash and self-absorbed, but what the heck, you have to grab every opportunity that comes your way. Sometimes I travelled with friends, sometimes with family and sometimes strangers who became friends. On the jaunt to Corsica I travelled with my great amigo of forty-four years, Dave Chumbley, music agent, entrepreneur, generous soul, hedonist and all round good egg. His brother Malcolm, was with us too. Middle-aged chaps just strolling around enjoying being tourists, eating and drinking fine

32

an eye opener it was too. Hoi An lies half way up the Vietnam coast on the South China Sea. It is a quaint place full of bars, restaurants, shops, especially tailors for the quick made-tomeasure garments and of course, the odd barber. It is very popular with tourists. The stellar attraction is the Japanese Bridge linking the Chinese and Japanese communities first constructed around 1590. The current bridge retains the same basic shape having been modified by the French and further refurbishments are planned. It struck me as totally impractical and awkward to access. But this is Vietnam and many things can be baffling but also wonderful. A trip to the barbers was easy compared to crossing the bridge. I speak no Vietnamese.

The barber spoke no English. I just pointed at a photo on his wall and smiled. A fine detailed haircut with neck and head-

Spring 2018

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BY MARK EDWARD TAYLOR

Missive XX

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massage followed, I paid the barber around six pounds with a handsome tip included and then asked for a photograph with him. This sets the picture theme for the whole article. Every hairdresser was happy to oblige with a snapshot post haircut.

It was good to test asking for the first time. By the end of the year getting pictured with a barber would be easyâ&#x20AC;Ś There is a much more in-depth article about the Vietnam trip at taylortaxitours.london go to the blog section. Onwards to a French cropâ&#x20AC;Ś Erakis Coiffeur, Ajaccio, Corsica, France, 11 May 2017

The hairdresser in Ajaccio has a nice line in t-shirts, or not?

What do you think? The haircut was very good costing 25 Euro with coffee included plus hair wash and attention to detail on the ears and nostrils. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably enough personal informationâ&#x20AC;Ś The location was a mere hundred metres or so from where Napoleon was bornâ&#x20AC;Ś Now that is historic, as Napoleon went on to conquer and influence much of Europe and to this day; I believe the French republican system counters the British constitutional monarchical system leading to clear divisions on how society is run. Napoleon was an admirer of Cromwell, leader of the English revolution in the 1640â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The English republic lasted little more than a decade. Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s republic endures. The British monarchy endures, and there lies the difference. Liberty â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fraternity â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

33

Egality! What does the UK have? Tradition â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Deference Class? Hence the division that endures with Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closest neighbour to this day and the current Brexit conundrumâ&#x20AC;Ś Next issue Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair-raising adventurers take him to Spain, Holland and Albania. But if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait The full version of this article can be read atâ&#x20AC;Ś taylortaxitours.london.

Spring 2018

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BY PETER ROSE

UNITE CALLS ON COUNCILS TO REVOKE UBER LICENCES Back in August 2017 Unite said that Uber's London private hire licence should not be renewed amid the scandal of choosing which crimes to report to the police.

In a damning letter obtained by the press from Inspector Neil Billany, the then head of the Metropolitan police’s taxi and private hire unit, Uber was accused of “deciding what crimes to report”, in an effort to protect its already dubious reputation.

In September and following strong and persistent lobbying by Unite and other unions, Transport for London (TfL) took the decision not to renew Uber's London private hire operator licence.

The decision was fully supported by the Mayor of London – Sadiq Khan, who said: “It would be wrong if TfL continued to licence Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners’ safety and security.”

Uber of course lodged an appeal at court and new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi asked to meet Transport for London with the intention of “putting things right”.

But even then Uber was hiding bad news from TfL. Uber had been concealing a mammoth data breach, affecting 57 million passengers and drivers worldwide with 2.7 million of those being in the UK. Worse still, Uber had actually paid off the hackers responsible to keep the story out of the public realm.

Enough is enough The data breach is just the latest in a long line of scandals ranging from misogyny and sexual harassment at Uber's US HQ to acquiring the medical records of a victim of driver rape in India to the industrial espionage headlines.

In an article published on the Unite Live website last December, the cab section of Unite said that it was time that councils revoked Uber's private hire operator's licence on the grounds of not being fit

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and proper. Also in December, BBC News reported that York City Council had revoked Uber's private hire licence, citing the data breach as the principal reason for the revocation.

With Uber’s growing list of scandal, Unite’s Passenger Transport head, Bobby Morton sent a letter to the Local Government Association, again arguing that Uber's licence should be revoked on the grounds of not being ‘fit & proper’.

In the letter Morton argues: “The security breach is alarming enough in itself, but the fact that it seems it has been knowingly and recklessly concealed

by Uber from licensing regulators is surely sufficient grounds for the immediate “Revocation” of their licences on the basis of dishonesty and withholding information!”

Versions of Bobby Morton’s letter will also be sent to key authorities where Uber holds a private hire licence, these include: Wolverhampton, Brighton and Liverpool.

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Unite works Taxi drivers!

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