A CAMPAIGN to give licensed taxis in Glasgow exemption from the 2022 low emission zone (LEZ) targets has been launched by a trade union.

The City Council previously agreed to implement the LEZ in the city centre to all vehicles which means petrol vehicles must have an emissions standard of Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel by December 2022. 

Unite the Union, Glasgow Cab Section, is arguing that taxi drivers should be given until at least 2027 to meet the LEZ goal as it is likely to cost them between £40,000 to £60,000 to upgrade to a new model. 

Glasgow recently announced its intention to be carbon free by 2030 which would mean some members of the trade, who haven’t already, upgrading again to an electric vehicle nearer the £60,000 mark.

Calum Anderson, chairman of Glasgow Cab Section, says that the coronavirus outbreak has affected their business making it even harder to afford a new black hackney. 


Mr Anderson said: “The current crisis is an existential threat to the taxi trade, and it could take at least two to three years to recover normal earnings. 

“The absence of the night-time economy for the foreseeable future will see many operators having to rent out taxis on single shift basis. This will reduce income that goes towards new vehicles by around 50 per cent. 

“Glasgow City Council climate emergency proposals now accelerating moves towards carbon neutral city/zero emission vehicles to 2030 from original 2037 goal. 

“It is perverse to have operators spending huge sums on transition Euro 6 diesel vehicles that won’t have an economically viable lifespan. 

“Glasgow City Council is well behind the curve in terms of charging infrastructure. Thousands of charge points will be needed to achieve the 2030 goal and there are only 165 at present.

“We expect there will be far greater choice of electric taxis, with vastly improved range, by 2027. 

“Taxi trade emissions have been steadily falling due to natural wastage. The local authority has also implemented a policy allowing newer used vehicles to replace older ones, which is proving successful in further reducing emissions.” 

Concerns have also been raised that if drivers aren’t financially able to purchase the right car, they may have to operate the service in a saloon, making it harder for families, those with disabilities and other vulnerable members of the community to be transported around the city.

Mr Anderson added: “We know we have to follow the LEZ rules but we are just asking for some help from the council to make this possible.
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18431379.union-call-glasgow-taxis-given-low-emission-zone-exemption/

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KIRKLEES

Taxi firms being investigated for failing to pay drivers for key worker trips

Council are investigating claims from the union that drivers are complaining on a daily basis

Union chiefs have said taxi firms in Kirklees that fail to pass on payments to drivers transporting key school workers should face losing their operating licences.

Council bosses have promised to investigate claims that some taxi companies have not paid drivers as part of a schools transport contract.

But the authority's chair of licensing said withdrawing a licence could be unnecessarily punitive as all employed drivers would then lose their jobs.

The GMB union, whose members include taxi and private hire drivers, said officers were assured at the start of the coronavirus crisis that Kirklees Council would continue to pay taxi operators for school transport even if schools were closed.

The arrangement meant taxis could be used for the urgent delivery of food and supplies as well as transporting key workers across the borough in order to support local communities.

But in a development that has been described as "a potentially fraudulent scandal" GMB organiser Andrew Aldwinkle said the union was being contacted "most days" by drivers who have not been paid by their operator.

He said: "Taxi drivers have lost most of their income during the lockdown and to have this regular money withheld by greedy taxi bosses is another kick in the teeth."

The GMB has asked Kirklees Council "to investigate every incident where a taxi driver is not being paid" and to explore whether the actions of some operators is fraudulent.

The GMB has also suggested that a licence review take place if an operator is found to have been withholding money from drivers.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that the council was first made aware of an issue a fortnight ago.

Officers are said to be undertaking a review.

The chair of the council's Licensing Committee, Clr Amanda Pinnock (Lab, Ashbrow), said it was "wrong" that money was not being passed on to drivers.

"Although the council has agreed they it will continue to pay them they expected the money to trickle down to drivers and that hasn't been happening."

She stressed that the issue related to just "one or two" taxi firms in Kirklees.

She added: "We are going to review and look at other options.

"It needs a council response. We need to have something in the contract that deals with something like this and with possibly some sort of reprimand.

"But it's counterproductive to take away an operator's licence because if that happens all the taxi drivers lose their jobs."

Clr Carole Pattison, the council's Cabinet Member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, said: “We will thoroughly investigate this to make sure this money is going to the right people who need it most.

"Many taxi drivers are continuing to work to keep this vital service running for those who need it and we thank them for that.

"We have already contacted operators to inform them they should be passing payment on to the drivers but if we do find that this is not happening, we will take action."

https://tinyurl.com/y7nxwm57