Uber is a multi million dollar company funded by Google, Amazon and Goldman Sachs that allows passengers to virtually 'hail' a minicab using an app on a Smartphone. It is not this technology that threatens our trade, in fact it's very similar to several of the Taxi and other minicab apps on the market, the danger is that TfL are allowing Uber drivers to take bookings directly in the car whilst 'plying for hire' and to calculate fares using a meter type device in direct contravention of the law prohibiting meters in minicabs.
I wrote to TfL last year pointing out the various breaches of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 and asking them to take enforcement action and revoke Ubers licence, despite my chasing them on several occasions, I never received a substantive reply until April when they advised that, in their provisional opinion, Uber was operating lawfully. This left the Association with no choice and I instructed our Solicitors to proceed with Private Prosecutions against Uber drivers in an effort to gain convictions and force TfL to recognise the illegality of Ubers operation. These summonses have now been issued. Our solicitors have also been instructed to apply for a Judicial Review in the High Court, against TfL's decision not to prosecute the moment they formally confirm it.
As a result of the LTDA's actions and in a direct response to us announcing our demonstration next week, TfL have now asked us to join them in seeking a declaratory judgement in the High Court over the meter issue and our lawyers are currently considering our response and course of action. Make no mistake TfL's sudden change of heart is only as a result of the threat of a demonstration but it is still too little and to late and we must present a mass turn out on the 11th to show the Worlds media the strength of feeling and unity in our trade against the maladministration and inefficiencies of TfL.
The worlds media have already started to cover our grievances examples at:-
http://www.ltda.co.uk/campaigns/planned-taxi-demonstration/
If we make the 11th the biggest demonstration of the year TfL cannot ignore our just cause.
BE THERE IN THE SQUARE AT 2PM ON THE 11TH, DO NOT BE BEATEN, DO NOT BE TURNED AWAY, DON'T LET THEM 'KETTLE' YOU IN THE MALL OR PARK, WHATEVER THE POLICE DO JUST KEEP HEADING BACK AND FORCE TFL TO RECOGNISE THAT THIS TRADE CAN STAND TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE OUR VOICE IS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR!
Thank you
Steve Mcnamara
General Secretary