Protest: Don't send London Taxi and Private Hire to Coventry

Together for Transport announces a further protest against Transport for London’s plans to privatise their London Taxi and Private Hire Department.

As part of the privatisation process, cuts in staff are planned amongst the Licensing Officers who carry out the cab driver inspections which will only lead to fewer - or less thorough - inspections being carried out as staff are put under increasing pressure to maintain existing performance levels.

And all this in the name of company profits – without regard to the very real safety concerns that many people are telling Together for Transport about.

That is why support for our campaign is spreading with full backing from London’s cab driver associations who are lining up in support of keeping the Taxi and Private Hire Department in TfL and in London.

Together with the TSSA and PCS trade unions, the cab driver associations, including LCDC and UGC, have not only stated their support but have also made it clear that they oppose TfL’s plans that will threaten effective regulation of the Capital’s taxis and private hire vehicles.

TfL’s own Website claims 6,000 unlicensed cab drivers have been arrested since the Safer Travel at Night Scheme began in 2003 whilst in 2009/10 there were 143 reported cab related sexual offences.

Together for Transport comments: “All of London should be up in arms about the very real danger that we are facing as people who use unlicensed cabs – and especially women – are likely to be put at serious risk if current arrangements are undermined.”

What can you do?

There are several simple actions:

• Come to our leafleting session on
  
  Wednesday 23rd November
  
  Between 0830 and 0930
  
  At Windsor House, Victoria Street, London.
  
  TfL’s Finance Board is meeting to discuss the privatisation plans – so show us your support;
   
• Write to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and the Chair of TfL.
  
  Tell your London Assembly Members, Councillors and MPs as well.
  
  Have a look at our story about fears over taxi safety by following this link
  
  Then follow this link to a suggested letter but to have maximum effect, write it in your own words.
  
  And if you are unsure who your local political representative is, use the Post Code facility on the bottom of the suggested letter.
   
• Let us know your views.
   
• If you are a member of group affected by the proposed privatisation, contact us so that we can work together to stop this dangerous initiative.