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Sent: Monday, 28 December, 2009 0:06:22
Subject: GMB/CTA Members Call Off New Years Day Cab Strike

With the inevitable results of accidents and casualties and possible fatalities and the bad weather and driving conditions GMB member cabbies thought it was unreasonable to deprive the public of the expertise of the city's highly skilled cabbies

Cab drivers have decided to cancel the New Years Day Cab Strike scheduled for 24hrs over the New Year’s celebrations.

Said Terry Flanagan GMB Branch Secretary said, "GMB members have after long and carefully consideration not to strike over the New Year as they fear that the likely impact on the public, the business community, and of course the associated risks of drink driving over the holiday period.

Clearly at this time many of the cabbies loyal and regular customers would like to participate in the New Year festivities to deny them our services on this special occasion could appear inconsiderate despite the cabbies legitimate claims against the Council. The cabbies wish to demonstrate their appreciation of their customers’ year round custom.

The business community including of course publicans, club owners, expect excellent business at this time of the year. Cabbies too, being in effect small business's themselves sympathize, particularly in the present financial climate. They have no wish to penalize business's which are often the cabbies customers, and supply considerable quantities of custom.

Finally of course there is the safety aspect; unfortunately it is quite clear that given no cabs, many could be tempted to drink drive. With the inevitable results of accidents and casualties and maybe even fatalities, this risk coupled with the appalling current weather and driving conditions GMB member cabbies thought it was unreasonable to deprive the public of the expertise of the city's highly skilled cabbies. Naturally they are appalled at the Council's latest attack on them by promising in effect no action on their plight until April 2010."

Terry Michel, GMB/CTA said, “Really Terry Flanagan has covered it but I would like to emphasis our concern for public safety. Something this Council clearly don’t care about. Chelmsford’s Cabbies drive many thousands on miles each year and are highly skilled and very knowledgeable indeed. Many regard the cabbies as the 4th emergency service. They may rest assured that we will be available over the New Year. Unfortunately if this Council fails to listen to reason we expect the cab service in Chelmsford to implode."

Ends

Contact: Terry Michel local GMB Professional Driver members on 07782 190 844 or Terry Flanagan, GMB Professional Driver Branch Secretary on 07958 275339 or GMB Press Office: Rose Conroy 07974 252183.

Notes to Editors:

The GMB Professional Drivers Branch and the Chelmsford Taxi Association met with Chelmsford Council in October and were told by Councilor Whitehead that Chelmsford Council had no intention of restricting the amount of licenses it will issue nor will it do an ‘unmet demand survey’ despite the fact this costing the Council nothing.

Chelmsford local drivers’ have asked the Council not to issue any more licenses as there is not enough trade to provide the current licenses holder with a viable living. GMB has pointed out that there are so many cabs and so little work that desperate drivers were working ridiculously long hours (80+) just to keep a roof over their heads. Too many cabs and not enough work have lead to many of Chelmsford’s professional drivers facing repossession as their earnings leave them unable to pay their mortgages. Chelmsford cabbies, worried about placing an financial burden on Chelmsford Council Tax payers, have offered to pay for an official ‘unmet demand’ survey which they believe will prove their case. The Council has rejected the offer.

GMB 22/24 Worple Road LONDON SW19 4DD Tel: 020 8971 4209 Fax: 020 8944 6139 www.gmb.org.uk

PRESS RELEASE

1 of 1 page

Monday 14th December 2009

Immediate Release

Attention: News desk, Transport, Industrial and Political Correspondents

GMB URGE CHELMSFORD COUNTIL TO THINK AGAIN ABOUT ISSUES RELATING TO THE TAXI  DISPUTE AND ASKS CHELMSFORD DRIVERS TO HEED VINTNERS WARNING AS PLANS GO AHEAND FOR NEW YEAR STRIKE ACTION

Taxi Strike Will Lead To Drink Driving Says Vintners

At a recent between GMB including the Chelmsford Taxi Association (CTA) and the Chelmsford Vintners Association, the Vintners expressed their deep concern at the prospect of no cabs in Chelmsford over New Year as a result of the strike action by GMB members who work as cabbies in Chelmsford.
  
Bob Bennett, Chairman of the ChelmsfordVintners Association said, "Nearly everyone I speak to believes we have enough cabs on our roads, this impending cab strike concerns our members greatly with no cabs available clearly many will be tempted to ‘Drink Drive’ and we all know the consequences of that. We call upon the Council to initiate talks with the GMB/CTA as a matter of urgency, obviously the cabbies deserve our support and we are supporting their request for an unmet demand survey and an immediate freeze on plate issuing. This Council must protect this vital service to our customers and the public"
  
Terry Flanagan GMB/CTA agrees saying, "GMB/CTA would ask all drivers to heed the concerns of the highly reputable Vintners Association and remember that the New Year should be a time of celebration and looking forward. Please don’t drink and drive. This warning from the CTA really brings home the vital role of the Chelmsford cab service and the extent to which the Council is willing to potential put lives at risk despite the legitimate requests of their local cabbies.

GMB/CTA urge the Council to get in touch and negotiate about the issues surrounds the New Year taxi strike. It is apparent that this Council is out of touch. GMB/CTA call on the Council to safeguard public safety and commence talks with GMB immediately. No Cabbie wants to strike over the New Year but unfortunately this Council seems oblivious to real situation within the Cab Industry. Surely talks are the sensible option at this moment in time?”

Ends

Contact:  Terry Michel local GMB Professional Driver members on 07782 190 844 or Terry Flanagan, GMB Professional Driver Branch Secretary on 07958 275339 or GMB Press Office: Rose Conroy 07974 252183.

Notes to Editors:

The GMB Professional Drivers Branch and the Chelmsford Taxi Association met with Chelmsford Council in October and were told by Councilor Whitehead that Chelmsford Council had no intention of restricting the amount of licenses it will issue nor will it do an ‘unmet demand survey’ despite the fact this costing the Council nothing.

Chelmsford local drivers’ have asked the Council not to issue any more licenses as there is not enough trade to provide the current licenses holder with a viable living. GMB has pointed out that there are so many cabs and so little work that desperate drivers were working ridiculously long hours (80+) just to keep a roof over their heads. Too many cabs and not enough work have lead to many of Chelmsford’s professional drivers facing repossession as their earnings leave them unable to pay their mortgages. Chelmsford cabbies, worried about placing an financial burden on Chelmsford Council Tax payers, have offered to pay for an official ‘unmet demand’ survey which they believe will prove their case. The Council has rejected the offer.

5th December 2009

Latest News From Chelmsford

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Cabbies: We'll strike over New Year

11:10am Thursday 3rd December 2009

CAB drivers in Chelmsford are threatening a 24-hour stoppage over the new year.

They are set to meet this week to discuss their next move in the long running dispute with Chelmsford Council over the issuing of Hackney Carriage licence plates.

Terry Flanagan, GMB professional drivers branch secretary, said: “The situation in which Chelmsford’s cabbies find themselves is absurd.

“GMB members believe Chelmsford Council is getting bad legal advice and they could easily stop issuing new cab licences for the time it takes to do a cost free ‘unmet demand survey’.

“GMB members working as Chelmsford cab drivers will pay for the survey as they are convinced it will show what they know to be true, that there are far too many cabs on Chelmsford’s roads.”

He added: “Unfortunately, it will be Chelmsford’s travelling public who will suffer by being inconvenienced through the New Year industrial action and by the inevitable destruction of Chelmsford cab industry that the council’s current stance will cause.”

30th November 2009

27th November 2009

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/latestnews/CHELMSFORD-Councillors-hit-nuisance-calls-taxis/article-1542126-detail/article.html

CHELMSFORD'S taxi war escalated this week when councillors were hit by early morning phone calls wanting to book taxis.

Police interviewed borough leader Roy Whitehead and his cabinet member for taxis Cllr Ian Grundy after their phones buzzed red hot in the early hours of Saturday.

It followed the distribution of leaflets in the town centre saying "If you want a taxi call your councillor," listing the pair's home phone numbers.

Cllr Whitehead said: "We were disturbed by a constant stream of calls in the early hours.

"Eventually we had to leave the phone off the hook."

23rd November 2009

Over the weekend Chelmsford's Hackney Taxis held a STRIKE between 12 midnight and 330 am, support for it was virtually 100% the public were confused at the empty ranks, but many supported the cabbies actions. Naturally much inconvenience was caused, and many parents found themselves acting as cabbies for the night!
 
Terry Flanagan Branch Secretary of the London Region GMB Professional Drivers Branch said
 
" We regret putting the public through this ordeal, but clearly the responsibility lies squarely at the feet of the Council, many Cabbies now face bankruptcy and the associated problems of house repossession and broken families. Cabbies will be meeting shortly to consider their options and there is no doubt that more strikes of longer duration and the possibility of a complete shut down over the new years celebrations will be considerd! regretfully last  night [23rd Nov] the councillors again refused to instigate a freeze on issuing Plates acting on we believe erroneous advice from one of their officcers, we await from the Council a detailed legal statement as to what laws sustain their argument! The public should be aware that the cabbies are in an unenviable position with their entire family enviroment at risk purely due to a Council acting vindictevly and maliciously against them! We are of course still available for negotations should the Council be interested in preventing what appears as more inevitable chaos.