There have been encouraging signs of late that the trade organisations and unions whilst they might not all be singing the same tune, at least have gathered around the same piano.
Trade politics will always attract a heady mixture of the sincere, pompous, deranged or down right shifty, no matter the more we meet together the less those with self interest can prosper.
The next steps must be as follows:
1. An agreed trade wide 'manifesto' is published.
2. The Joint Ranks Committee is reconstituted to include those currently excluded, even the existing members would admit it needs new blood and more people.
3. Any and all talks with TfL, The Mayor, BAA , London Councils etc. must have representation across the trade and those who currently attend this or that should agree not to unless the others are included.
4. Government, Mayor, GLA and TfL etc. informed that this new trade body (London Taxi Congress?) is the 'voice of the trade'.
5. It won't mean that everyone goes to every meeting except those that do carry a mandate from us all and report back to us all.
Of course some will have to surrender some perceived status and others not. Some will have to 'sell' their organisation or union on its benefits, democratic structure etc. etc. It should of course always have been so and some need to set aside personal ambition, old hatreds or just plain obstinacy.
There can be no more pathetic 'we're in your out' nonsense that only serves those who wish to see us divided and in fact, diminishes us all.
So trade leaders, can you now walk the walk?
To paraphrase:
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Trade politics will always attract a heady mixture of the sincere, pompous, deranged or down right shifty, no matter the more we meet together the less those with self interest can prosper.
The next steps must be as follows:
1. An agreed trade wide 'manifesto' is published.
2. The Joint Ranks Committee is reconstituted to include those currently excluded, even the existing members would admit it needs new blood and more people.
3. Any and all talks with TfL, The Mayor, BAA , London Councils etc. must have representation across the trade and those who currently attend this or that should agree not to unless the others are included.
4. Government, Mayor, GLA and TfL etc. informed that this new trade body (London Taxi Congress?) is the 'voice of the trade'.
5. It won't mean that everyone goes to every meeting except those that do carry a mandate from us all and report back to us all.
Of course some will have to surrender some perceived status and others not. Some will have to 'sell' their organisation or union on its benefits, democratic structure etc. etc. It should of course always have been so and some need to set aside personal ambition, old hatreds or just plain obstinacy.
There can be no more pathetic 'we're in your out' nonsense that only serves those who wish to see us divided and in fact, diminishes us all.
So trade leaders, can you now walk the walk?
To paraphrase:
"Think not what the cab trade can do for you, but what you can do for the cab trade"
Here's hoping.
I'm Spartacus
Here's hoping.
I'm Spartacus
