Statement on Rank Suspension London Hilton Park Lane

The branch was informed late yesterday afternoon that the rank across the road from the Hilton hotel was suspended between the hours of 2pm and 3am the following morning.

Enquiries were made to TfL as to the rationale to this decision, TfL stated that they received many such requests and had allowed this one.

Our concerns are:
Taxi Ranks are our place of work, they should only be suspended by essential maintenance works and then suitable alternative arrangements need to be in place.

Suspending ranks for the purposes of marketing and sales activity is completely unacceptable, it places the licensing authority in a position where they have to decide on the merits of each case and leaves them open to allegations of improper conduct when they say yes to one and no to another. The only policy must be not to allow any such activity.

In the case of the Hilton, there was ample road space that could have been used without the need to close a very busy rank that led to frustrations both for drivers and the travelling public. Indeed a 'flash mob' of drivers gathered to participate in effective peaceful direct action.

Due to the intervention by drivers, the vehicle was removed ahead a of time and even the crew who placed it on site saw no god reason why it had to be placed on the rank.

All negotiations were carried out in a cordial and friendly manner, no one wants to inconvenience the public, we just want to go to work and expect the licensing authority to facilitate that above all else.

Once again LTPH has put a third parties commercial interests above those whose licence fees pay the LTPH wage bill, be assured that the RMT will continue to campaign on this and many other issues to defend its members.