It's been confirmed that a series of meetings took place yesterday between the LCDC, Unite, The LTDA, Simon Hughes MP and Steve Wright Chairman of the LPHCA.
When asked if the RMT, UCG or HADTU were invited to these talks, we were told they were not.
Last Month, many thousands of London Taxi drivers gave up their time and made a special effort to show solidarity, in what they were led to believe was a United Trade effort to demonstrate against the incompetence of our licensing authority, TfL.
Indeed, banners were produced exclaiming the fact "Totally Failing London".
Both before and after the demonstration, there was plenty of brave rhetoric issuing threats of regular demonstrations.
But it seemed the message was lost and the threat of further action dissipated. Media coverage did not include our grievances with TfL and the misleading message went out that we were indeed protesting against a certain smart phone app.
When questioned why members of the UTG met with the Private Hire industry, we were told by the LTDA and Unite that no such meeting took place between them at Taxi House.
Although earlier in the day we had this tweet from Grant Davis Chairman of the LCDC.
After the trade had been promised unity, the LTDA proclaim that with 10,000 members, they don't need anyone else and can "Go it alone".
Pre-demo their was meeting between members of the UTG. The representative from Unite wanted to arrange dates for subsequent meetings, but Unite alone, as the LTDA refused to give assurances for another demo. The LCDC voted to back up the LTDA.
It now transpires that the theme of the protest has been completely changed by the United Trade Group (UTG). We are now told that the demonstration and any further demonstration will not be about TfL's incompetence but will be aimed at Uber.
This is the line the UTG want to pursue.
Unfortunately the trade has again been sold down the river by those who purport to represent us. We were informed through the medium of Twitter by a member of the general council of the a LTDA there is no question of full trade Unity.
TfL/Uber High Court Action Delayed By LTDA Court Cases
The decision by the LTDA to start legal action against drivers working for Uber has derailed Transport for London’s efforts to obtain a high court ruling on the legality of the service.
TfL’s board was today told that the issuing of summonses by the London Taxi Drivers Association will prevent the court from considering the issue as it cannot intervention where litigation is underway.
Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport, told the board that the summonses would be heard by magistrates whose rulings aren’t binding and would almost certainly be appealed.
Although it was likely those appeals would eventually end up in the high court, Daniels said it would take “some considerable time” for this to happen.
Sounds like another sell out. This definitely looks too much of a coincidence.
Information from Twitter and MayorWatch.co.uk
