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Well I joined the GMB about a year ago and am glad to have membership as at least gives me peace of mind.
Winchester City Council licensing seem to have a couldn't care less attitude towards the city trade....
Delimitation rules here and the council knows that the trade is suffering badly!!
We now have 126 Hackney licensed vehicles being a mixed fleet of saloons (49) and wav's (57) and 200 (and more) private hire!!
They won't do survey to see if there is any unmet demand and the drivers can't afford it under the economic climate or any other climate!! So we have a catch 22 scenario....
As far as I know I am the only one who is a registered member with the GMB.
I tied in vain to get other drivers to join the GMB, printing off flyers (off my own back) to get drivers interested in forming some proper union backed association as the one we have is disfunctional.
We even organised a meeting locally to get drivers to join but with no success....
I was wondering if a GMB rep would like to come to Winchester at some time to talk to drivers on the ranks to see if they could muster up some interest? It's a small city and the ranks are only a 1/4 of a mile apart at the most. There are three in main use, the Broadway, one behind Sainsbury's, High Street and the railway station.....
The drivers here are their own worst enemies and yet are moaning about dwindling takings, depressed about the future of the trade, yet feel powerless to do anything about it.
Would anyone like to help?

Regards Tony

Tony, The man you need to speak to is Terry Flanagan. We hae been woring closely with Terry and the GMB Union for a few months nolw and have been tackling Chelsmford Council head on. We delimited in 2005 and have over doubled the number of Hackneys. Not Good At All. Terry Flanagan Mobile 07958 275339. It wil take time to get everyone to stand up and stick together. Small acorns and all that. Nothing will change for the better unless you all stand up together and fight together. Check out what has been hapening in Chelmsford in recent weeks. Good luck, we all need it out there at the moment.

Posted By Tezmichel on 28/11/2009 02:20 PM
Tony, The man you need to speak to is Terry Flanagan. We hae been woring closely with Terry and the GMB Union for a few months nolw and have been tackling Chelsmford Council head on. We delimited in 2005 and have over doubled the number of Hackneys. Not Good At All. Terry Flanagan Mobile 07958 275339. It wil take time to get everyone to stand up and stick together. Small acorns and all that. Nothing will change for the better unless you all stand up together and fight together. Check out what has been hapening in Chelmsford in recent weeks. Good luck, we all need it out there at the moment.

We tried that last year to no avail, but it seems it really needs two good reps from the GMB, one ideally of Asian background, to come to Winchester and persuade the drivers here that it would be a good move if they want proper representation here. I tried but was not successful..... It would need them to get the Asian drivers to talk and voice their concerns and to get their ear.....
Maybe two reps would be better in winning over their minds as most of the Asian drivers here tend to be very insular and distrusting, sad as that is
Terry did contact me and as I said I tried my best, even organising a meeting locally, no one turned up except a couple of local drivers (English only sad to say), myself and a director from the biggest taxi firm in Winchester, Wessex Cars.
I know it seems strange but most of the Asian drivers here travel up from Southampton to work here as it was too difficult to get a license there.....
They all complain but do nothing to help themselves......
Maybe I'm just flogging a dead horse..... but at least I tried...

Posted By towag on 28/11/2009 03:59 PM

Posted By Tezmichel on 28/11/2009 02:20 PM
Tony, The man you need to speak to is Terry Flanagan. We hae been woring closely with Terry and the GMB Union for a few months nolw and have been tackling Chelsmford Council head on. We delimited in 2005 and have over doubled the number of Hackneys. Not Good At All. Terry Flanagan Mobile 07958 275339. It wil take time to get everyone to stand up and stick together. Small acorns and all that. Nothing will change for the better unless you all stand up together and fight together. Check out what has been hapening in Chelmsford in recent weeks. Good luck, we all need it out there at the moment.

We tried that last year to no avail, but it seems it really needs two good reps from the GMB, one ideally of Asian background, to come to Winchester and persuade the drivers here that it would be a good move if they want proper representation here. I tried but was not successful..... It would need them to get the Asian drivers to talk and voice their concerns and to get their ear.....
Maybe two reps would be better in winning over their minds as most of the Asian drivers here tend to be very insular and distrusting, sad as that is
Terry did contact me and as I said I tried my best, even organising a meeting locally, no one turned up except a couple of local drivers (English only sad to say), myself and a director from the biggest taxi firm in Winchester, Wessex Cars.
I know it seems strange but most of the Asian drivers here travel up from Southampton to work here as it was too difficult to get a license there.....
They all complain but do nothing to help themselves......
Maybe I'm just flogging a dead horse..... but at least I tried...

If you GMB could guys read this without taking offence (as it's not intended) maybe you could do what is suggested..... I'm afraid I lack the eloquence that maybe you guys have and can put across better
I reckon that as the Asian drivers are in the majority it would be better that one of them take up the cause.....
There is an underlying resentment from drivers (English and living local) that have been cabbies here from the year dot, therefore being in the minority does not help things from my point of view, so I am bound to be seen as someone that maybe can't be trusted or does not fit in with their culture, sad as that is too.... I am what I am and can't change that no matter how friendly I am.
But's that how it is..... GMB we need your help....

May be well worth speaking to John Yexley down in Bracknell. Only about 45 mles from you and a strong Asian contingent down there too. We also have a large number of Asians in Chelsmford. As long as you all talk sensibly then all can benefit from standing together.
This is the time to put all other issues and tensions behind you. I can assure you some of our most militant guys are not of English persuassion. Get the right motivation and then you will get everyone standing up together to fight the common enemy. (The Council and the system).
Please cpontact Terry Flanagn, I am sure he can point you in the right direction if not be there himself to help the push. The GMB can and will only do what you the Members want. Good Luck..

Hi Terry,

I hope you are well.

I have contacted Towag and as Winchester is in the Southern Region I will make arrangements for Southern Region representatives to visit Winchester and see what can be done.

Wishing you luck.

Regards

BB

Right Fellas
Thanks for your support so far They'll have their work cut out believe me.
Bringing along Asian taxi guys (GMB converted) will be an enormous persuader

Lets hope this attempt will bear fruit

Regards Tony