PROTEST PLIGHT


‘ARROGANT’ HIGHLAND COUNCIL FACES STRIKE AS TAXI ASSOCIATION JOINS UNION


Taxi drivers in Inver- ness have threat- ened strike action after joining ranks with a national trade union – claiming it aims to use its “clout” to take on the “arrogance and con- tempt” of Highland Council. The Press and Jour- nal reports that the GMB Union has pledged to take the local authority to task after the Inver- ness Taxi Alliance (ITA), which has around 100 mem- bers, was announc- ed as an affiliate member. Duncan Fraser, the proposed ITA repre- sentative to the union, said the move strengthened their cause after tensions rose amid alleged over-provision of licences


coupled


with insufficient rank spaces and the immi- nent closure of the city’s Castle Wynd rank. He threatened: “All the groundwork has been done by the Alliance for a with- drawal of labour. It will be a nightmare for police when peo- ple are unable to get sufficient taxis and roam up the High Street for taxis. We even know which night to use.” The pact with the union was confirmed on Friday 13 July after ITA’s Annual General Meeting where the majority of members voted in favour of joining. Liz Gordon, of the GMB, has welcomed


58


the taxi drivers on board, saying: “There are many challenges within this sector such as licensing, boundaries


and


health and safety. “As an independent trade union, we have clout we’re prepared to use in order to tackle these issues and improve matters for GMB members.” She added: “We will be balloting our members on indus- trial action should the relevant parties not be willing to sort matters out via con- sultation. This is the ultimate right of trade union mem- bers. However


I


remain positive that amicable talks will produce results.” Mr Fraser, formerly ITA vice-chairman, did not stand for re- election in order to put his name forward to become the ITA representative to the GMB. He said strike action was a strong possi- bility with the union now on board, adding: “The council has been stepping over the views of taxi drivers for too long and for them consul- tation is just a gesture to tick a box to say they have done that.” Mr Fraser now sees GMB’s involvement as something of a game changer, say- ing: “When the union comes in at least the council will be held legally accountable and we feel that they have not always con- formed to Scottish


cerns is the cost of taxi licences which they say is endan- gering their liveli- hoods. Official figures show fees for taxi licences in the Highlands can reach around double the


equivalent


Duncan Fraser pictured at the Castle Wynd taxi rank


legislation.” ITA Chairman And- rew MacDonald was delighted by the move after


long


complaining about what he sees as “shabby treatment” from the


local


authority. He said: “For too long now the taxi trade in Inverness and indeed the High- lands has been treated with arro- gance and con- tempt by Highland Council and recently the wishes of 3,600 members of the pub- lic were summarily snubbed in regard to the closure of the CastleWynd Rank.” ITA had gathered signatures for a peti- tion against


the


closure of the rank as well as a potential strike. A council spokes- man denied any alle- gations of


legal


wrong-doing, add- ing: “The council adheres to its duties under law to act fol- lowing procedure and in recognition of the roles that taxis and private hire operators have. “Careful considera-


tion is also given to engaging beyond that which is re- quired under law when changes in arrangements are planned, as hap- pened in the recent alterations to taxi rank arrangements in Inverness. The coun- cil


refutes any


allegation according- ly.” Cllr Ian Brown, the former chairman of Inverness City Com- mittee,


said: “It


would be very disap- pointing if it went as far as strike action. That is no help to the drivers and it is not help for the cus- tomers. “It could well devel- op into a problem but people would know in advance what was happening so they could make alternative arrange- ments. A strike would not be helpful for either the cus- tomers or the dri- vers.” The Inverness Taxi Alliance has long campaigned for bet- ter conditions for drivers in the High- land capital. Central to their con-


charges in neigh- bouring areas. In Aberdeen, the driver licence costs £105, in Aberdeen- shire it is £88, and £98 in Argyll & Bute but in Inverness a driver can expect to pay £272 – the high- est of allthe surrounding regions. The Alliance has also been infuriated by what they say is the over provision of licences which is not capped, while at the same time reducing rank spaces. Andrew MacDonald, noted the number of taxis rose fromabout “300 in 2010 to 450 in 2018”. Perhaps the biggest issue


faced by


drivers in the city is the closure of the Castle Wynd rank to make way for the redevelopment at the castle. Mr Macdonald said relocating the rank to Bridge Street shows that planners were


“apparently


unaware that this rank had been for- merly closed, deem- ed as unsafe and the rank was relocated to CastleWynd.” Inverness city man- ager David Haas earlier defended the council saying: “We recognise their posi- tion and the fact that


livelihoods depend on a good rank and that is why we have taken the steps we have to offer alterna- tives. “We operate fairly as a council and we recognise that taxis play a part in the transport infrastruc- ture of the city and we would be open to discuss matters.” Mmmm…Pu t t i ng aside the usual “them and us” conflict in all this, why should the council all of a sud- den pay attention to the trade once they’ve brought a union in on the pro- ceedings? OK – so there are several practical actions the trade could take on this – notwithstand- ing strike action, which only hurts their pockets and rarely gains a result, apart from angering pas- sengers. In respect of the rank changes, has anybody re-quested a formal site visit – involving the town planners (Highways), the licensing officers, police officers, coun- cillors


from the


Licensing Commit- tee, and the trade themselves, to go around the ranks and discuss the practical difficulties? Then in respect of dispropor- tionate licensing fees in the district, has anybody requested (these days under FOI) that the council provide the last three years’ taxi and pri- vate hire licensing accounts? If you don’t ask you don’t get… Ed.


AUGUST 2018


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