London Taxi Drivers

The  branch for the increasing number of London taxi workers who are joining RMT. You can read the branch's blog here, and the RMT Heathrow Taxis blog here.

RMT Demands Recognition in TfL Taxi Engagement Policy

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the resolution from our London Taxis branch and accept the sentiments expressed in it. London taxi drivers face many important issues, and this union should have the right to represent our members’ views on these issues through the TfL Taxi Engagement Policy. We therefore demand that the Taxi Engagement Policy recognise RMT, as it does other organisations, as a bona fide representative body of taxi drivers.

We therefore instruct the General Secretary to:

RMT Taxi Branch Chalks Up Significant Victory In Fight Against Unlicensed And Unsafe Rickshaws Clogging Up Central London

Taxi union RMT confirmed today that their Parliamentary Convenor John McDonnell MP has successfully objected to the TFL London Local Authorities Bill at Second Reading - specifically on the grounds that it would lead to the continued proliferation of unlicensed, unsafe rickshaws clogging up central London

London Taxis branch resolutions

RMT's London Taxis branch passed the following resolutions at its June meeting:

  1. "that the London Taxi Branch hold demonstrations throughout the event of the Olympics if the Branch continues to be excluded from meetings at Taxis and Private Hire, Transport for London on matters related to the London taxi trade".
  2. "that the London Taxi Branch set up a "strike committee" in relation to (1) above and to look at ways of blocking Olympic Lanes.

RMT London Taxis Branch Press Release April 2011…

The RMT London Taxi Branch will be demonstrating/picketing outside the offices of Transport for London, Windsor House, Victoria Street SW1 at 11am on the 11th April 2011 over the disturbing and worrying rise in reported rapes/sexual assaults of women in London.

  • In the year 2009 140 sexual assaults were reported in “bogus” or unlicensed mini-cabs.
  • Of the 140 reported sexual assaults 24 were actual rapes.
  • When compared to 2008 figures this represents a rise of 53%

15-Year Age Limits for Taxis

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution received from our London Taxis branch.

That we believe that measures should be taken to reduce pollution and improve air quality in London and elsewhere, but that these should if possible avoid penalising working people. We share the concerns of our branch about the Mayor of London’s proposed 15-year age limit on taxis; we believe that there may be better ways of reducing pollution from taxis eg. the scrappage scheme suggested by our branch; and we are appalled at the lack of consultation with our members.

Feeder Rank System - Heathrow Airport Taxi Drivers

Decision from RMT's General Grades Committee

That we note the accounts of the HALT Society and the resolution of our London Taxis branch (12/1/11) calling on us to bring the issue regarding Heathrow Airport Licensed Taxis (HALT) to a satisfactory conclusion for our members by taking the necessary legal action.

We instruct the General Secretary to arrange a meeting as soon as practical with our legal representatives and London Taxis branch officers to pursue this matter.