by News Desk | Apr 24, 2015 | London News
Our Letter to TFL in relation to Hailo
From: Steve Garelick @ GMB Drivers [mailto:steve.garelick@gmbdrivers.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 8:53 PM
To: ‘Blake Peter’; Chapman Helen (TPH) (HelenChapman@tfl.gov.uk); Hayward Siwan (Siwan.Hayward@TfL.gov.uk)
Cc: ; Michelle.Bacon@gmb.org.uk; Tony.Warr@gmb.org.uk; simon.rush@gmbdrivers.org
Subject: Request to revoke Hailo Networks Licence
Following a letter from myself to Hailo Networks I have failed to receive a response whatsoever to issues surrounding work undertaken by our member O. I. a licenced Driver with TFL.
Mr. I. joined Hailo’s service in early January and despite finding the service was quiet he undertook what work was offered.
His first journeys over a 9 hour period took place on January 24th for a grand total of £23.00
On April 5th the computerised system passed him a journey to Plymouth that including a tip came to £926.20 a not unsubstantial sum.
Understandably Mr. I. was not only alarmed but shocked to find that not only had he been accused of being involved in a ‘fraud’ job but also advised he had allegedly been texted that he should be checking card data of journeys over £100.00
Not only did he never receive such a message no terms exist in the exiting driver handbook.
We have been able to check with other Hailo Executive drivers an all confirm without exception that have not received such a message.
To ask a driver to check card data breached PCI DSS Guidelines.
The larger issue clearly is that not only are Hailo acting unprofessionally and in withholding monies for legitimately undertaken work.
Not only is this underhand it is concerning.
It seems that Hailo are not taking appropriate checks and expecting drivers to pay for Hailos poor Judgement.
To accuse a driver of complicity in fraud is a serious matter which we ask you to contact the appropriate TFL Police contacts to now investigate.
Based on the contractual obligation to provide service on page 78 of your manual the operator has also entered in to a contract with the driver this is further enforced by identifying the driver also covered in this section.
On the basis that operators should be fit and proper this is now questioned by not only the allegation of fraud against the driver but the fact that clearly fraudulent journeys are taking place and that Hailo is failing to undertake appropriate checks on passengers this would point towards inaccurate booking records which of course is reinforced on page 87 of the guidelines.
Clearly the system is not fit for purpose.
On this basis I believe that Hailo Networks Private Hire licence should be suspended as they have made heinous accusation without foundation but have clearly maligned our member and acted outside the bounds of decency and honour.
Steve Garelick
Branch Secretary Professional Drivers G56
www.gmbdrivers.org
Source: Published on the GMB Proffesional Drivers Branch Website
by News Desk | Apr 23, 2015 | London News
Yesterday’s London Taxi Protest was an outstanding success in terms of taxi drivers taking positive direct action and the UCG should be congratulated for that.
However in terms of actual results it may well not change what TFL do for one very simple reason; they don’t have to.
TFL and Hendy are accountable and answerable to NO ONE ; (with the one exception of Boris Johnson.)
They have been told in very clear terms many months ago exactly what they are doing wrong by the GLA report which stated TFL are ‘woefully inadequate’
They were given until March to come up with a plan for action
They have done nothing and they will continue to do the same.
If anyone is unsure about the position of TFL then just read their statements about today’s protest.
They have lied through their teeth on many points and it is a breach of Public Law for people in public office to be dishonest, and could well constitute Misconduct in Public Office.
Ask yourself if you truly believe that TFL who are lying through their teeth like this about the taxi trade are going to wake up tomorrow morning and suddenly decide to do the honourable thing and act reasonably?
Of course they won’t because they don’t have to; they answer to no one (except Boris Johnson)
Anyone who believes that TFL are going to take positive action for the benefit of the taxi trade in May is seriously misguided. If they were going to act they would have done it.
Yesterday’s protest was an annoyance to TFL and nothing more.
The only way that the changes that are needed will happen is if there is regime change.
Boris Johnson and TFL will never act reasonably, they will always act in their own interests.
The only person who can change anything is Boris Johnson. If a #sackboris protest is supported then he will either resign or make immediate changes at TFL for the better.
He is currently standing as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Uxbridge. If he makes no immediate change for the better he risks continued protests directed at him which could jeopardize his chances of becoming a Member of Parliament.
This is the only thing he wants and he no longer really cares about being Mayor of London.
If he resigns as Mayor then the London Taxi trade will have the opportunity to vote for a Mayor who will make immediate changes.
The only time that a protest will be effective is before the election; after will be too late.
During the 2012 Mayoral Election a very small group of drivers supported the Cabbies Against Boris protest. Boris Johnson knew how badly this could affect his campaign and immediately set up a meeting with the Deputy Mayor. If this campaign had been supported the changes that are needed would have happened 3 years ago.
The Taxi trade missed that opportunity .
Please do not miss the opportunity again because you may not get another
The protest yesterday by the UCG proves that drivers can be properly represented without the established trade organisations.
A #SACKBORIS protest cannot be interpreted by TFL or the media as anything else; it is clear in its message and its objective.
There are thousands of people and many groups in London who have been adversely affected by the improper decisions of Boris Johnson on many issues
- Air Pollution- his improper air quality strategies have failed miserably leading to tens of thousands of deaths from air pollution and a huge cost to the NHS each year in London.
• Social Housing- he has failed to implement proper social housing policies leading to hardship and an increase in the homeless
• Property Deals- he has ignored proper planning process allowing dubious developments i.e. Royal Albert Docks.
• NHS- he has overseen policies which have lead to the closure of vital NHS services
• Social Injustice- he has made many improper decisions which do not comply with Public Law
• Transport-he has implemented improper transport policies adversely affecting transport workers and commuters
• Taxi Drivers- he has implemented an unlawful taxi age limit and failed to enforce regulations
• Fire Brigade- he has improperly cut services and closed fire stations
There are many groups already supporting the #SACKBORIS campaign including Occupy London and the Peoples Assembly.
It will be impossible for the media to report that the protest is about anything other than #SACKBORIS.
The Mayor of London is also Police and Crime Commissioner which means he cannot legally be an MP at the same time.
He needs to be reminded of this and resign as Mayor immediately.
I would urge the UCG and the trade in general to seriously consider its position and keep the momentum going.
Act now before the election and have another protest next week
Please help #SACKBORIS by tweeting and signing the petition
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sackboris-as-mayor-of-london
Dave Davies.
by News Desk | Apr 23, 2015 | London News
We mustn’t let TfL use the Ü word to stop us demonstrating.
The company can’t possibly get any wider publicity (good or bad) than they presently get.
Every news media website carries not only the latest Über story but also an advert from them. Even TfL had to be restrained from dipping their nose in the trough and taking Über’s 20 pieces of silver.
No matter how we handle our own PR, whether it be a press release or even a press conference, the media will always choose to announce that we are demonstrating about Uber….so what!
They are in the papers one way or another everyday anyway.
It’s like the Evening Standard running the same story every April saying that the greedy cabbies were getting another pay rise. Funny how they negated to tell the public this year we’re not getting one, but Über are putting their price up by 8% (that’s an 800% bigger rise than we got last year)
Our main PR damage came last year, when Reuters received a letter, (allegedly from a leading trade org) explaining that the taxi trade were demonstrating about the smartphone app and not the woefully inadequacies of TfL.
The trade was stabbed in the back and betrayed weeks before the demo.
Uber’s PR machine went into overdrive and it was put out that their app had an 840% increase in downloads that day.
This was a lie (of course) but the media and most of our trade were taken in by their spin doctors.
The Ü word is now used as an excuse to dissuade drivers from demonstrating, TfL bosses must be laughing their socks off.
But now we have nowhere left to go, no one has come up with a plan B.
We only have one weapon left in our armoury and that is, we can bring London to its knees.
And we can do it on a regular basis.
The irony being, Über lay deep at the heart of the problem we have with TfL, but after their last PR coup, the Taxi trade is now terrified of saying the word.
International Support For Our Rally Today.
Support from Italian Cabbies
by News Desk | Apr 23, 2015 | UK News
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by News Desk | Apr 23, 2015 | London News
Clive Chamberlain, former chair of Dorset Police Federation
Taxi drivers deserve our thanks
I was working in London one day last month and before heading home caught up with a friend over a cuppa in a hotel near to New Scotland Yard. He booked a taxi as he was in a hurry to get to a meeting. A minicab (not a taxi) was dispatched but the driver declined to carry him because he has a guide dog.
The matter has been reported to Transport for London and is under investigation, so it is not possible to comment further, but what happened after this unfortunate incident is worthy of wider publication and demonstrates what a fantastic group of kind-hearted people our London black cab drivers are.
My friend used Twitter to highlight his experience, as did I, and what followed was a heartwarming, overwhelming outpouring of disgust and genuine offers of help free of charge from many of the hundreds of cabbies who use Twitter.
Over the years, as an operational Bobby I’ve known many occasions when taxi drivers have come to the assistance of police officers. They’ve helped to trace missing people, ‘radioed in’ suspicious incidents, and come to the aid of many an officer, preventing them from getting a serious ‘kicking’.
I can recall motorcades of black cabs visiting seaside towns during the summer giving underprivileged children a day out, and was surprised recently to discover that the London Taxi Drivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children has been running since 1928. There is also a London Taxi Driver’s Benevolent Association for War Disabled, which started in 1947 and they undertake amazing work. Next month they will be taking 160 WWII veterans to the Netherlands, for a special commemoration.
Licensed Hackney Carriages have been around since Oliver Cromwell’s Day having first been established in 1654. It’s one of our oldest professions, pre-dating us lot by 175 years.
The relationship between cabbies and Bobbies can sometimes be a little strained, but on the whole is symbiotic, both helping one another and working 24/7, 365 days a year.
So a big thank you to our taxi drivers, there will be many a police officer grateful for the help that they have given.
You can follow me on Twitter @MrCliveC
Source: POLICE
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