Shard Demo: Statements from the UCG and The RMT.

Statement from the  UCG re demonstration at the Shard14:00Hrs 6th May 

      

Dear colleague

Following numerous meetings involving representatives from the United Trade Group (UTG), TfL and the Shard management it has become clear that despite the UTG and Shard management agreeing on a proposed location for a Taxi rank outside the entrance of the hotel, TfL have rejected the proposals and are refusing to allow rank to be sited where the current Minicab drop off/pick up bay is located.

The Shangri La Hotel located inside the shard building is due to open on the day of the demonstration and have recently signed an agreement with Addison Lee. It was recently discovered that they plan to charge passengers up to 4 or 5 times the cost of a journey in a Licensed London Taxi.

This is unacceptable.

Therefore the United Cabbies Group (UCG) fully support the call for a drive in demonstration at 2pm on Tuesday 6th May at the Shard building in St Thomas Street SE1.

We suggest that all drivers that wish to attend the demonstration should head either for the Shard or to TfL's Palestra building on the corner of Blackfriars Road and Union Street.

Furthermore we are delighted 

to announce that all Taxi trade organisations have united to support this action which was called for by working drivers who were repeatedly intimidated by members of staff at the Shard which is Europe's tallest building.

Last Friday following an altercation between drivers and Shard staff members an impromptu flash demonstration was called for on Twitter. The response was phenomenal and within minutes hundreds of angry Taxi drivers converged on St Thomas Street which resulted in the surrounding area coming to a complete standstill.

The Police were called and after liaising with drivers an agreement was reached to temporarily allow drivers to rank outside the building.

This is the power we as a trade hold when stand together, the authorities clearly fear a trade that are united and pursuing a common goal.

However, TfL are stubbornly refusing to grant the Taxi trade a permanent rank outside the building on the red route, despite the fact that St Thomas Street is currently a dead end and will remain so for at least the next 3 years whilst construction work is carried out.

The decision to place the existing rank some 430 yards away from the front entrance of the Shard building is unacceptable, we are disgusted that TfL expect disabled passengers to walk such long distances to get into a Taxi.

The UCG call on its members and all Taxi drivers to support the demonstration and to let TfL know we will not be treated as 2nd class citizens in favour of the PH trade, they are clearly unfit for purpose and we have had enough.

This demonstration against TfL has been long overdue and we hope this is just the start of ALL trade organisations joining forces on regular basis to protect our trade when we need it most.

Please remember to turn on your hire light, wear your seatbelt, remain in your Taxi and follow any instructions from Police officers.

Sherbert Radio, an internet based radio station (part funded by the UCG and operated by one of our new committee members), dedicated to London Taxi drivers will be broadcasting live information from the demonstration so you can receive real time updates. This is a great radio station with some great music, Jamie Owens is a very talented Radio DJ.

See below for information on how to get access to the station.

We Recommend an "App" called Tunein Radio.

iPhone Users go here

itunes.apple.com/gb/app/tunein-radio/id418987775?mt=8

Android users go here

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tunein.player

How to get Sherbet Radio (These instruction were compiled using Android, As it is the Same App the instruction should be near identical for iPhone users, apologies I do not have access to an iPhone at the time of releasing this email to confirm)

Download and install.

Start the "App"

Press the "Magnifying Glass" at the top right hand side of your screen to search

type in "sherbet radio" (without the quotes) and search

scroll all the way to the bottom of the list (the very bottom of the list)

select Other results: Sherbet radio

a small selection of results are found (in my case it was the first result found) it resembles a Taxi Light.

Select Sherbet Radio

OPTIONS

If you have limited mobile data you can reduce the data use by adjusting the stream you select. The higher the kbps rate the better the quality, the more bandwidth you use. Select what is acceptable for your needs. do this....

Options > Choose stream > (select your bandwidth useage)

You can also follow us on twitter @unitedcabbies

We hope to see you all at 2pm on the 6th May.

Regards

United Cabbies Group.

AND FROM THE RMT:

The RMT London taxi driver’ branch supports any individual that seeks to highlight the hostility and incompetence of Transport for London toward the London Taxi Trade.

However the RMT LTDB propose that any action needs to have the input of all trade unions and other taxi groups to maximise effectiveness and has sought and will continue to seek dialogue with all trade orgs.

It is clear that the current method of engagement with the trade and TfL is ineffectual as rank spaces continue to disappear and when reluctantly appointed are unfit for purpose.

The London Taxi trade is under threat from many quarters and the licensing authority (TfL) appears to be complicit by its inaction, therefore the need for coordination of campaigning by us all is more vital than ever.

UNITY is STRENGTH!