About 100 workers at London Electric Vehicle Company are set to strike in a pay dispute, a union has said.
Unite the union said its members at LEVC in Ansty Park, Coventry, have rejected a 3.5 % pay rise and £400 one-off payment for those on lower grades.
BBC News reports that the firm, which has made thousands of London's electric licensed taxis, is owned by Geely Holding.
LEVC said it had made a "competitive offer, amounting to a total 5.2% pay rise" in 2024 and was committed to finding a satisfactory solution for both parties.
Workers, who have seen "wages fall by 19.9% in real terms" since 2016, will take an initial day of action on Thursday, followed by an overtime ban, the union added. added.
Further strike dates are expected to be called if the dispute is not resolved.
Unite said the pay offer was a "real terms pay cut" as the real rate of inflation (RPI) was 4.9% when the increase was to be implemented in January.
It followed "years of below inflation pay rises", while Geely had made profits of £584m last year, the union said.
“This is a company that is bringing in billions but has attacked its Coventry workers’ wages year after year," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
"Geeley can absolutely afford to put forward a better pay offer to our members. Our members’ at LEVC in Coventry have their union’s complete support in striking for a fair pay rise.”
LEVC said it was disappointed Unite members had voted for industrial action following pay negotiations with the firm.
“Against the context of external challenges and significant financial pressures, LEVC has made a competitive offer, amounting to a total 5.2% pay rise in 2024," its statement said.
“We are committed to reaching a satisfactory solution for both parties.
"Should industrial action take place we will put several measures into place to minimise the impact of any potential industrial action upon our production schedule and ultimately our customers.”
A Kettering taxi driver who was kidnapped by customers saw his ordeal come to an end when fellow cabbies blocked their route.
Northampton Crown Court heard that the incident took place at about 9.30pm on November 4 last year when the taxi driver was called to pick up customers in Leeson Crescent.
Prosecutor Julian Lynch said Corey Stafford, 30, (pictured left) and Shannon Johanson, 31, (pictured right) refused to pay and demanded that he take them to their destination.
The Northants Telegraph reports that front seat passenger Stafford then punched him and both he and Johanson, who was sitting at the back of the vehicle, threatened him.
The victim was forced to begin a journey to Northampton, where the pair wanted to go.
The cabbie was able to make contact on the taxi radio with other workers and his ordeal, which lasted about 11 minutes, then came to an end when two other taxis arrived and blocked the route of the car..
Stafford, from Barton Seagrave, and Johanson, from Northampton, both fled but were later arrested and remanded in custody.
They were both found guilty of kidnap by a jury but found not guilty of charges of robbery and possessing a bladed article.
The court heard that Stafford’s previous convictions include attempted robbery and causing grievious bodily harm, while Johanson’s record includes convictions for robbery and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Sentencing, Recorder Simon King told them: “It was your violence and threat of violence that forced him to begin a journey in a state of high fear and anxiety.”
Recorder King told the pair that they had targeted someone who was working on their own late at night.
He said: “In reality here, and I do not think it will surprise you to hear this, in my opinion nothing other than a sentence of immediate custody can be justified.”
On Friday 7 June, Stafford and Johanson were both jailed for 42 months and will serve up to half of their prison sentence locked up before being released on licence.
A woman who tried to avoid paying her cab fare before attempting to rob the driver has been jailed.
The Echo reports that Vicki Millard was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court after she changed her plea to guilty while her trial was being prepared.
The victim of the robbery, who wishes to remain anonymous, said shortly after the incident last year that he was called to the Greenstead area to pick up a male and female passenger on Saturday, June 3, at about 11.25pm.
He claims they got into the back of the car and he started driving them to Asda before Millard changed her mind, telling him she wanted to go to Roman Road.
He agreed to continue the journey and as he turned towards the destination asked how they were going to pay for the £11.50 fare.
The cabbie said: “As the car slowed down, I noticed the woman was trying the door to get out, but the child locks were activated.
“As she was unable to exit, both of them then fought to get through the front seat gap to escape.
“She opened the front door. I reached out to push her out while the man in the back had hold of my jacket and was throwing punches to my head.
“I managed to break free and get out of the car.
“As the male got out, he was attacking me, and shouting 'give me your money'.
"I could see the woman then leaning into the passenger side taking money from my centre console.
He added: “I am still very nervous. This is such a dangerous job, picking people up in the early hours. Some people are unpredictable.
“I was hit several times to the back of the head which left me dazed.
“I was shaking uncontrollably.”
Millard, 37, from Loughton, was arrested in Lion Walk shopping centre last December and later charged with five counts of theft from shops including Marks and Spencer, Asda and River Island.
She was sentenced to a community order while the proceedings for the robbery trial were ongoing.
Millard has now been jailed for 15 months for robbery and making off without payment.
Source: https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24374337.woman-robbed-colchester-taxi-driver-jailed-15-months/
Uber has applied for a private hire operator’s licence in York, submitting the application in March
According to the York Press, the app company, which doesn't currently have a licence to operate out of York, was refused permission to renew its licence in 2017.
Local taxi drivers at the time campaigned to prevent Uber from being able to base itself in the city. However, Uber cars licensed by other authorities still continue to operate in York.
When City of York Council refused Uber's licence renewal in 2017, the council gave two main reasons:
The first was that there was a significant data breach in 2016 which affected 57m users, and the company had failed to report this to the authorities.
There had also been a rise in complaints about Uber drivers in York, which indicated to the council that there were "management issues".
Saf Din, Chair of the York Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, organised a petition against the licence renewal in 2017, which drew 1,397 signatures.
Other drivers raised concerns about background checks on drivers.
An Uber spokesman at the time said competition was good for the local economy and all vehicles and drivers were checked.
"This is a disappointing vote for the riders and drivers who use our app in the city," he said.
The application to City of York Council will be discussed at a council meeting on Tuesday, June 11.
If the council was to approve the new licence then York licensed drivers could work as Uber drivers operating out of the city.
Former council leader, mayor and taxi driver, Ian Gillies, said: "If I was still a taxi driver I'd be completely against it. It's a nuisance, but you can't legally stop it."
Ian, who led City of York Council for a year from 2018, said that he thought there were no legal grounds for the council to turn Uber down.
"The problem we've got now is that its gained momentum," he said.
"Uber saw a gap in the market and became part of the fabric, whether you love them or hate them. You can't stop progress can you."
Ian added that the convenience of Uber is very hard for the traditional hackney carriage to compete with.
"I think its completely wrong, but I'd rather have it licensed in York than have them constantly coming from elsewhere," he said.
"I just don't think you can build walls around York and hope they go away."
Ian added: "At the end of the day, these things are for the benefit of the consumer and not the operator."
City of York Council's report on the licence application says there has been no consultation taken so far.
The report added: "Granting the licence will enable Uber to recruit York licensed drivers and vehicles on to their platform for passengers in York which they cannot currently do.
"Furthermore, the York licensed drivers will be lawfully able to undertake journeys for passengers in other authority areas."
If successful, Uber would operate from an address in Oakdale Road, Clifton Moor.
Source: https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24373777.uber-apply-private-hire-licence-operate-york/
Doncaster private hire firm, Donny Cabs, this month celebrates a year in business, growing from 23 to 100 drivers in that short period of time.
Co-owner Ranj Gug told the Doncaster Free Press: “The business started up to give the people of Doncaster a choice with regards to travel.
"After covid things got difficult, and with the growing cost of living crisis, having more choice is exactly what the people of Doncaster needed.”
He continued: "We are a local business, run by local Doncaster people.
"Our prime goal is to serve the public with a smile, to be a friendly and reliable local private hire firm.
"The support from the public over this first year has been immense, and overwhelming at times.”
The firm started small with only 23 drivers for the first month, and now one year onwards, it is fast approaching the 100 driver mark.
Ranj added: “Each week, our number of private hire users and fleet of vehicles continues to grow.”
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.
A pilot emissions reduction grant scheme providing financial support for hackney carriage drivers to upgrade to cleaner EURO 6 and fully battery powered vehicles has been launched.
The ride-hailing giant has submitted an application for an operator licence to Darlington Borough Council, with a decision expected in August.
Darlington could soon see Uber cars on its streets after the ride-hailing giant applied for a licence to operate in the town.
Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has revoked the licences of two taxi drivers following a series of speeding offences.
A Northampton taxi driver has been found guilty of trafficking cocaine between his home city and Milford Haven.
The move comes after concerns were raised by the taxi industry about the rising cost of purchasing new vehicles.
Guide Dogs charity has asked licensing authorities in England for their support in sharing guidance on the law on carrying guide or other assistance dogs with all taxi and private hire operators.
Reading Taxi Association (RTA) chairman Asif Rashid has slammed Reading Borough Council's proposed phase-out of older petrol and diesel cabs by 2028, calling it a financial burden for drivers.
Dorset Council is poised to review taxi fares across the region, excluding Weymouth and Portland which have separate regulations.
A North Belfast man, Ruairi Fintan Muldoon (31), has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with an additional 12 months on supervised release for a botched attempt to rob a taxi driver.
Passengers are been invited to take part in a survey aimed at finding out if the taxi trade in West Suffolk is accessible to all.
A Glasgow man, Darren Gray, 31, launched into a verbal tirade and racially abused a taxi driver on Paisley Road West on August 19th, 2022.