Cabbies threaten dramatic new Uber protest - More Proof Uber Problem Is Being Politically Managed

A dashcam video clip, showing an Uber car driving the wrong way along York's Nunnery Lane

CABBIES have voted to block York city centre unless council bosses heed their angry protests against Uber drivers 'flooding into the city.'

But a council officer has urged them not to 'take matters into their own hands,' saying the authority would investigate complaints and take action where appropriate.

The GMB union said more than 100 hackney and private hire drivers attended a 'stormy' meeting yesterday to vent their anger after City of York Council's alleged opening of rendezvous points for private hire drivers across the city.

A union spokesman said: "These are points where private hire vehicles can wait for calls from their office. The York taxi trade believe that they have been put in place for the benefit of Uber drivers who flood into the city at weekends from outside the area."

Bill Chard, from the GMB’s Professional Drivers’ Association, claimed changes were being introduced without proper consultation and without any demand from the York trade.

"When questioned, the council have replied that they do not have to consult on this issue and even said that they had carried out some consultation," he said.

"There were over one hundred present at our meeting including proprietors and representatives of both Hackney and Private Hire Associations and not one person present said that they had been consulted or accepted any need for these rendezvous points.

"York are acting like some banana republic dictators, riding roughshod over the interests of local drivers and local businesses in favour of outsiders who will not put a single penny into the York economy.”

Terry Osborne, a private hire representative from York, said: “This was another heated meeting with York’s home grown drivers being ignored time and time again by City of York Council."

Attendees spoke of instances they had witnessed or videoed on their phones of drivers from outside the York area acting unlawfully and unsafely and putting lives at risk.

The Press revealed last week that a series of video clips assembled from dashcam footage, showing Uber drivers driving the wrong way down various streets, had been placed on Youtube by York drivers.

Uber said then that it took all allegations of dangerous driving very seriously and would contact the private hire drivers that it could identify as Uber partners and remind them of their obligations.

It said any driver that broke the terms of their Private Hire licence or Uber partnership risked not only losing access to the Uber app, but also risked losing their private hire licence.

Mick Rix, GMB National Officer for the Hackney and private hire trade representing over 20,000 members in the industry came up from London to attend yesterday's meeting, and promised the GMB would back the York drivers' campaign.

He said: “York based drivers meet the city's demand, they are local people who spend their money here and they do not cause extra pollution by driving from West Yorkshire because they are already in the city.

"I understand why the drivers are so angry when they perceive that the council is bending over backwards to appease the outsider UBER vehicles.”

A spokesman added that the meeting concluded with a vote in favour of 'blocking the city centre if the City of York Council continue to ignore the trade.'

Matt Boxall, head of public protection at the council, said private hire pick up points were introduced on both Lendal and Davygate a year and a half ago to help address long standing noise complaints in a nearby area.

“The pick up points were discussed at meetings between the council and the trade on occasions as long ago as January 2014, well over a year before Uber applied for a licence," he said.

"We are not aware of any complaints about the pick up points from the drivers, the public or GMB since and we continue to have regular meetings with drivers. It is important to note that these are merely pick up points, and not waiting areas.”

He added that anyone with a concern about a licensed driver or vehicle should report it on 01904 551525 or public.protection@york.gov.uk, and dangerous driving incidents should also be reported to the police.

“As with any complaint, we will investigate and, where appropriate, take any action as the law allows. We continue to urge drivers not to take matters into their own hands."

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2lC0rRd
via IFTTT