Power when united! London
taxi drivers take back their
work from the touts
By Mike Hughes ©
B
y the time you read this most London Dial A Cab drivers were at the forefront of SMS and Internet communications including
drivers will be aware that some night drivers the action as their radio system, with the various forums means that everyone has an
have taken action to take back work from the cooperation of their control room staff, allows equal chance to express their views. Instead of
minicabs. It appears this all started because a them to post messages, which get rapid results. ideas and suggestions having to go through a
23 old female driver was told in no uncertain
As the word spreads, these are now being hierarchal trade organisation before any action
terms that the customers of Nobu in Berkley
joined by non-radio and drivers from other can take place, there is now a ʻfl atʼ structure
Street didnʼt need taxis and she was told to
radio circuits. Despite some reports in other in place which allows ideas to be passed
leave. In fact, the second of the two words
trade papers and magazines making claims backwards and forwards almost immediately.
used was “off” – Iʼll let you fi ll in the other one.
that this action is being coordinated by one or
However, what the doorman didnʼt realise was
more organisations, it seems that the original Whatʼs more, many of todayʼs newer taxi
that this was someone who wasnʼt going to be
actions have been taken by the night drivers drivers are not prepared to just complain and
intimidated that easily. A few telephone calls
acting together on their own initiative. They do nothing. They are refl ecting the thoughts and
were made, messages put out on Dial A Cab
have fi nally realised that combined action, even feelings of the general public who are far better
and within a very short time the whole street and
by a relatively small number, gets results. Just informed than they have ever been before. As I
much of the surrounding area was full of taxis
like a snowball starts with a small ball which write this Michael Martin has just announced his
with their lights on ready to take the customers,
gradually becomes bigger and bigger until it resignation as Speaker and the MPs expenses
the majority of whom seemed to prefer to use a
needs several people pushing together to keep scandal is running in the press. The public
ʻproperʼ licenced taxi.
it rolling so this action is attracting attention from want their elected representatives to be seen
others. Radio circuits, unions, associations, to be doing their jobs without living a ʻfat catʼ
This action, although it appeared to be
police, and licensing authorities appear to be life on expenses. MPs have fi nally realised that
spontaneous, has been the catalyst which has
fi nally united parts of the taxi trade, particularly
waking up to the fact that drivers have had they must refl ect the needs and wants of the
the night drivers who have fi nally decided
enough of being pushed around. Some of the people that elect them. Such is the power of
that they are fed up with seeing their work
trade organisations are now taking a more todayʼs communications that no one can hide
being taken from them every night while the
active interest while the authorities too are their actions or inactions. This means that the
ʻauthoritiesʼ appear to do nothing to prevent
realising that action must be taken to prevent ʻleadersʼ, particularly those who may have been
whole scale law breaking. Not only did taxis line
what some have called ʻtaxi warsʼ from getting in the position for some time can no longer sit
up at Nobu, but also at other establishments
out of hand. back on their previous laurels but must listen to
where licensed taxis have been forced out by
the ground swell or be prepared to stand aside
the ʻusualʼ lines of parked minicabs with the
Why are people prepared to take action now and let someone younger and with more fi re
drivers openly touting.
instead of just driving by? Is it the recession take their place. In the meantime, people power
focussing peopleʼs minds or are there other may well get action.
How did this come about? The Internet site
factors at work? I believe that communication
London Taxi Drivers forum seems to provide
is the answer. In the past when something I, for one, salute those who have taken this
the answers. Here taxi drivers express their
happened it could take days or even weeks action. I have been there, with trying to do my
opinions and ideas on how to regain the work.
for the message to be passed within the trade. little bit at Fabric but you are the real heroes
No one seems to know for certain just who
Trade papers and magazines such as taxi talk by taking action at so many locations. Letʼs
suggested that action be taken, but, just as
provide an excellent service, but some of these hope more join you so that we can all get back
the Brighton taxi driversʼ call to ʻstrikeʼ last may have their own agenda and try to ʻslantʼ the work we have allowed others to take away
year when one of their number was arrested their stories to achieve their own political end - from us.
grew rapidly, so the London driversʼ calls soon not so with taxi talk as the editor tries to publish
multiplied resulting in action being taken. every side of a story. Today mobile phones, Copyright Mike Hughes 2009
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