Coventry cabbies in strike warning

by Aftab Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 22:52

Coventry cabbies in strike warning
Aug 26 2009 by Cara Simpson, Coventry Telegraph

COVENTRY cabbies have threatened their biggest strike yet, which they say will bring the city to a grinding halt.

Members of the Coventry Taxi Association were so incensed following a meeting with Coventry City Council yesterday that they vowed to take drastic action.

Major disruption was caused on the ring road during the Association’s most recent protest which saw hundreds of black cabs stage a go-slow in June.

The Association’s latest threat was in response to councillors voting unanimously against their plea to cap the number of Hackney Carriage licences issued and limit the number of taxi drivers in the city.

There are currently 968 drivers licensed to drive hackney carriages (traditional taxis which can be hailed in the street) in Coventry. In addition the city has hundreds of private hire cabs which have to be pre-booked.

The Association says the Hackney Carriage licensing department has failed to act on the issue, despite complaints of longer hours and lower pay, which they say is because too many taxis are on the roads.

Following the meeting, Alias Yousef, Coventry Taxi Association chair, said he was under pressure to fulfil Association members’ wishes.

He said 95 per cent of the 700-strong membership voted in favour of a strike if the council failed to concede to their demands at a meeting last month.

A petition signed by 328 members in favour of a limit on Hackney Carriage licences was also submitted to the council.

Mr Yousef said: “Strike action is now imminent. This time it will be random, we will not give any warning.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2009/08/26/coventry-cabbies-in-strike-warning-92746-24528772/