PROTEST PLIGHT
SCOTTISH PH ASSOCIATION AND UNITE THE UNION CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT GLASGOW TAXI & PH LIMITS
The Scottish PH Association (SPHA) and Unite the Union Cab Section have taken part in a joint demonstration in support of the taxi/PH overprovision policies, also known as plate caps, in Glasgow. On 30 July, drivers from both sectors converged on Cochrane Street, flanking the City Chambers with vehicles, in an effort to protect their livelihoods and ensure a sustainable future for the industry. Both organisations also hand delivered petitions to Glasgow City Council. Unite the Union presented their members’ petition, and the SPHA delivered their membership ballot report, demonstrating the overwhelming support within the private hire sector for maintaining current plate cap policies. The Unite petition has gathered over 500 signatures while the SPHA ballot resulted in 83% of their members, on a 79% turnout, supporting keeping the plate cap. Both organisations had encour- aged their members, as well as independent taxi and PH drivers, to participate in the demonstration to show support for the campaign. Eddie Grice, SPA General Secretary said: “This is a critical moment for passenger safety and the long- term viability of our trade in Glasgow. Maintaining the plate caps isn’t just about protecting driver incomes; it’s fundamentally about public safety. “The trade faces many challenges and drivers are feeling a financial strain. If that worsens then drivers will inevitably be forced to work longer hours and more shifts leading to fatigue. This puts everybody at risk. Scrapping the cap would lead to
PHTM AUGUST 2025
an oversupply of vehicles and would fire the starting pistol on a race to the bottom, where corners are cut on vehicle standards, driver welfare, and ultimately, public safety. “These overprovision policies are essential for so many reasons, but the most important one is they
stop an excessive number of vehicles from flooding the market, which would drive down driver earnings to unsustainable levels. The only voice seriously pushing for the cap to be scrapped is that of massive companies such as Uber, who have vowed to flood the city with hundreds more cars. It’s not sustainable and it’s not safe and it must not be allowed to happen. “I’m also incredibly encouraged to see the taxi and PH trades stand- ing shoulder-to-shoulder on this vital issue. It’s heartening to find common ground and work together to defend policies that benefit us all, especially the safety of our passengers and drivers.”
WAKEFIELD CABBIES PROTEST OUTSIDE WAKEFIELD TOWNHALL
Licensed taxi drivers staged a protest outside Wakefield Town Hall on 16 July. Drivers voiced strong concerns over long delays for compliance tests plus “un- necessary bureaucratic hurdles”. Chair of Wakefield Drivers’ Asso- ciation, Yasar Ahmed, told PHTM: “There are two motions impacting the trade being discussed: One for our trade and one against.” He highlighted critical issues, including an approximate wait of “five weeks for a compliance test”. Ahmed has called for an end to the appointment-only system for plate collection, stating that drivers are currently “waiting a week just to collect a plate.” He also advocated scrapping the 6-month compliance test, for an annual test in line with other West Yorks councils.”
At the meeting councillors voted against a motion proposed by Cllr Nadeem Ahmed, requiring taxi drivers to undertake the know- ledge test. However, a motion by Cllr Jack Hemingway was passed calling for enhanced DBS checks following the Casey Report despite the fact that as Cllr Nadiah explained: “taxi drivers are already required to do an enhanced DBS check and his motion is pointless.” Yasar added: “Cllr Hemingway wants to make licensing more ‘stringent’. Cabbies can’t have more than 6 points on their licence before a potential 5-year ban, yet police officers and councillors can have 12 points before a ban. It seems Wakefield Council doesn’t value or respect taxi drivers whatsoever.
19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
