LONDON TAXI NEWS

Brian Munro Cancer Fighting Fund and RMT’s efforts to support it.

The Fund has been set up to raise money for a cutting-edge treatment available at Christie’s hospital in Manchester that Brian needs to help combat a rare form of cancer, ocular melanoma.

Thanks to many of you who have so far contributed -  we are making great progress with the Fund. Now, we are stepping things up with an exciting chance for two people to win a fantastic prize. 

You can buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a three-day trip for two people to New York with hotel and flights included. Tickets are £2 each and the raffle will be held in the evening on Thursday 27th of June. For your chance to win this fantastic prize, buy tickets via the Brian Munro Cancer Fighting Fund PayPal ‘donate’ button on web on our website: www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/node/4261 

When buying raffle tickets please comment that they are for the 'New York Raffle,' and add your email address. We will reply with your raffle ticket numbers. All proceeds will go to the Fund. We will stop selling online raffle tickets at 12:00hours on Thursday 27 June 2013. When buying raffle tickets via PayPal please remember to state 'New York Raffle' and your email address. RMT General Secretary Bob Crow will pick a winner at random. The winning ticket number will be posted on our websites.  

Thanks for your solidarity and good luck!

Janine

To find out more about how this e-mail list operates, visit:http://www.unionlists.org.uk/lists/info/rmtlondoncalling

How to Lobby Your MP in Parliament.

 What is Lobbying ?

Lobbying is about raising issues with and seeking to influence elected representatives. It can take many different forms and can be done by paid professional lobbyists or by grass roots activists and members of the public. 

Lobbying of MPs can take place in Parliament when it is sitting or in an MPs constituency. 

An MP should, and generally will, see you as a constituent rather than simply as a trade unionist and as such is meant to represent a constituent interest even if he or she does not agree with them. 

It is important that you, your colleagues, friends, neighbours and family contact your MP on important issues and concerns, the more contact's an MP has on the same issue the more likely that it is that they will do something about it.

How do we lobby MPs in Westminster?

In general, constituents and RMT members tend to choose to lobby their MPs in Westminster as part of a coordinated lobby day at Parliament often organised by the RMT the TUC or others. 

However, there is nothing stopping you working with members and officers in your region to organise your own lobby of Parliament. 

Lobbies of Parliament usually take place between Monday and Thursday when Parliament is sitting with Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons been the most favoured times as they usually present the best opportunity to catch the maximum members of Parliament. 

It is best to get in touch with your MP in advance of your visit Parliament, either in writing, by e-mail or by phone to make an appointment to see them on the day. 

However, if this has not been possible or your MP has not gotten back to you there are procedures in place to try and get in touch with your MP without an appointment. 

You will need to go to the main central lobby meeting area of the Houses of Parliament (Access is not normally allowed until after 2 PM) and ask at the desk to ”Green card” your MP, so-called because you are given a green card to fill in with both yours and your MPs details. 

Parliamentary officials will then seek to get noticed to your MP that they have a constituent waiting to lobby them. 

There is no guarantee that your MP will receive the message in time or be available to see you and you must sit and wait in central lobby for your MP to turn up or the clerk to give you a response.

Getting in touch with your MP

I can f you are not sure who your MP is then there are a couple of ways you can check this out:

Go to http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ or via the “find your MP” link on the main Parliament website, all you need is your postcode.

The House of Commons information office and inform you who your MP is if you call them on (020) 7219 4272.

When you write or call your MP make sure you make clear they now you are a constituent as MPs are bound by Parliamentary rules to only help their own constituents. 

At this stage, don't go into too much detail about what you want to see them about, just simply stating of concerns and use local examples of possible and relevant.

When you see your MP.

when you see your MP, start from the bases of assuming they know nothing about the issues you raise, make sure you clearly set out who you are, identify yourself as a constituent, where you work and or the local services you use that could be at risk. 

Be sure to get the following points across in a clear, courteous and concise manner.

• Thank the MP for season you and establish how much time you have to talk to them.

• The background to the issue.

• How and why it impacts of you, use examples if you can.

• How it affects the MPs constituents, again use examples if you can.

• If possible, offer an alternative solution.

• Be specific on what your MP can do to help and what exactly you are asking them to do.

• Ask them to update you on what they do following your meeting.

What you can ask your MP to do in Westminster.

There are a number of things you can ask your MP to do to pursue your concerns in Parliament:

• Write to raise your concerns with the relevant government minister.

• Signed an early day motion (EDM), a short written statement that come raise awareness and support of an issue. 

MPs also quite like to use EDM’s reform local press stories, so bear that in mind.

• Raise issues through asking and writing Parliamentary questions.

• Raise matters with the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's questions (MPs are chosen for this through a ballot you could ask your MP to put in for it.)

If they do not hold a government position you could ask your MP to put in for a backbench debate on a particular issue. 

Again, this is decided by a ballot system but if successful a government minister will have to respond to the concerns represented in the debate.

After meeting your MP.

It is important that meeting your MP on this issue is just the start of it. 

Following the meeting you can:

• Write or e-mail to thank you MP for the meeting, being careful to outline any agreed actions on both sides.

• Keep in touch with your MP and what they are doing in support.

• Feedback to fellow members in your workplace and local community.

• Don't forget to let the union's political team know how you get on so that they can also follow your meeting up with MPs.

• You could always invite your MP to come along to a branch meeting, or if that is difficult invite them to meet with a number of colleagues outside of the workplace. 

Speak to your union about organising some sort of local press stunt or photo opportunity, you may want to involve your MP in this depending on the outcome of the meeting.

Lobbying the House of Lords.

Members of the House of Lords have an important role to play. It is offered in the Lords that the government loses a vote on legislation. Members attend the house on a voluntary basis and only a few have an office or any staff. A full list of Lords can be found that www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/id/idinfo.htm.

You can write to a member of the House of Lords the below address:

Name, Surname and title

House of lords,

London,

SW1A 0PW

www.rmtlondontaxibranch.co.uk  

Tel: 07899786433

londontaxi@rmt.org.uk

Taxi lobby of Parliament 2nd July.

Start: 02/07/2013 16:00

End: 02/07/2013 18:00

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

The Law Commission is currently reviewing all legislation relating to taxi and private hire vehicles. Whilst this review, which officials claim is designed to simplify the legislation, could potentially deregulate the industry and as such is a threat to members’ livelihoods, it also presents us with a number of opportunities.

The interim statement of the Law Commission does not commit to legally defining plying for hire, however, it does acknowledge that a two-tier system must remain in place.

RMT is participating in a lobby of Parliament in order to ensure that MPs are aware of our views on any changes to legislation. This lobby is a joint lobby with both Unite and the GMB.

The rally will take place in Committee Room 10 from 4pm to 6pm on Tuesday 2nd July. Members are encouraged to arrange to meet their Member of Parliament on the day, in order to express their opposition to any further deregulation of the trade. In order to lobby your MP please arrive at 1.30pm.

                              *****************************************************************

RMT slams plans set out by London Tories to allow commercial sponsorship of tube stations as “a blueprint to destroy London’s transport heritage in the name of private profit.”

RMT has warned that the plan, already dismissed as unfeasible by tube managers, would see stations renamed and staff forced to wear uniforms branded in the corporate sponsors logos. The tube map, and the heritage of London’s transport services, would be ripped to pieces to ram the sponsors names down passengers throats.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“One minute the London Tories are trying to ban workers’ rights on the underground the next they are trying to turn the whole network into one giant marketing opportunity for their big-business backers, we can only speculate what garbage they will spew out next.

“Of course the Tories couldn’t care less about the tube map and the heritage of our public transport services, in their “Greed is Good” ethos Budweiser Baker Street and McDonalds Oxford Circus make perfect sense.

“Although tube managers have rightly dismissed the proposal as unworkable that doesn’t mean that these jokers will leave it at that. If they think RMT members are going to parade around as advertising hoardings for a bunch of tax-dodging capitalists they should think again.”

Taxi Rank Update. 14 June 2013.

Below is the latest taxi ranks update to help keep you informed. Follow the links provided for more information.

 

News 

Regent Street works

Phase one of the current works has finished ahead of schedule and will now end on Saturday 15 June 2013, this means that the taxi rank suspension will finish early and the rank is expected to be available from 13:00 on Saturday. 

The next phase of work will be brought forward and will start on Saturday 15 June 2013 at 01:00, this phase will involve the centre of the road taxi rank between Conduit Street and New Burlington Place being suspended. These works are scheduled to last for approximately 5 weeks.

There will continue to be roadside signs and variable message signs (VMS) around the area advising general traffic of the works and to avoid Regent Street where possible. Traffic, congestion and the traffic management arrangements will be monitored.

The work is part of the Regent Street Vision and the aim of this is to transform Regent Street into a quality shopping street, a successful business address and a place for people. Some disruption and inconvenience during the works is unavoidable but we will continue to work closely with Westminster City Council to try and minimise this.

More information about the Regent Street Vision can be found on The Crown Estate website here.

Charterhouse Street

Following discussions between us and the London Borough of Islington about a taxi rank for Charterhouse Street, the borough are conducting a consultation on a proposal for a rank.

If you would like to comment on this proposal and state whether you support the idea of a late night taxi rank in Charterhouse Street then you can find the consultation Click here..

The closing date for replying is 28 June 2013.

 

Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2013

The 2013 Wimbledon Tennis Championships takes place between Monday 24 June and Sunday 7 July 2013. During this year’s tournament the following arrangements will be in place:

Southfields Station

There will be a taxi rank (rank no. 5636) for 19 taxis in Augustus Road, near Southfields Station, offering shared taxi trips to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships

The taxi rank in Wimbledon Park Road, near Southfield Station (rank no. 5619) will not operate during the Championships

Wimbledon Station

Shared taxi trips from the Wimbledon Station taxi rank to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships will be operating

Marshals are expected to be at the Southfields and Wimbledon station ranks in the morning on tournament days 

Passengers going to the tennis should be dropped off at the rank in Church Road, outside Gate 4

Wimbledon Tennis Club – Church Road

There will be a taxi rank (rank no. 5587) for 30 taxis in Church Road (outside Gate 4) where spectators will be able to take shared taxi trips to Southfields and Wimbledon stations. The rank will also operate normally for passengers wishing to travel to central London and other destinations. 

The rank will also be the drop-off point for all taxi passengers and stopping elsewhere on Church Road is not permitted 

Wimbledon Tennis Club – Somerset Road

There will be a taxi rank (rank no. 5588) for 8 taxis in Somerset Road (outside Gate 13) offering shared taxi trips to Wimbledon Station and operating normally for passengers wishing to travel to Central London and other destinations.

Marshals are expected to be at the Church Road and Somerset Road ranks from 17:00 onwards

Drivers are reminded that taxis must not be left unattended on ranks at any time.

Pre-booked taxis

2 spaces in Somerset Road will be allocated for pre-booked taxis.

Taxi sharing arrangements

Shared taxi fares

For shared taxi trips between Wimbledon or Southfields station and the tennis the fare payable per passenger is:

£2.50 for adults

£1.25 for children between 2 and 10 years old

Children under 2 travel free

It is an offence to charge more than the prescribed fare and fares for unshared taxis cannot be negotiated in advance that would be more than the metered fare. 

Journeys to other locations

Sharing is only authorised:

From the taxi ranks at Wimbledon Station and on Augustus Road near Southfields Station to the tennis tournament ground by Gate 4, Church Road

From outside Gate 4 at the tennis ground to either of the two stations

From Somerset Road outside Gate 12 of the tennis ground to Wimbledon Station 

Hornchurch

We’ve received reports about drivers continuing to park in the old taxi rank in Station Lane, Hornchurch and also parking on the pavement outside Ask restaurant. Drivers must not park in the old taxi rank as this has been revoked and so they risk being issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

Event

Thank you to all of the drivers who worked at Finsbury Park following the recent Stones Roses concerts. There are several events planned for summer 2013, including at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and where different taxi arrangements are in place we’ll aim to keep you updated.

Consultations

-        Charterhouse Street taxi rank consultation

-        Crossrail 2 consultation – closing date is 2 August 2013 

 

information

-         Taxi ranks booklet

-         Find the latest TfL press notices

-         Planned traffic impacts from events and closures

-         TfL Consultations

-         TfL Projects and schemes

Brian Munro Cancer Fighting Fund

Dear RMT member

 

Your union’s Council of Executives recently agreed to support and publicise the ‘Brian Munro Cancer Fighting Fund’, a fund set up to raise money for a cutting edge treatment that is available at Christie’s Hospital in Manchester.

 

Brian has been the Branch Secretary of RMT’s Bakerloo Branch and representative of the RMT for nearly 20 years and has been an advocate and fighter for our union since he first joined the industry in 1993. Brian has fought for working-class people all his life.  We ask that the RMT family rallies round Brian at this time and supports our campaign to raise the funds for this breakthrough treatment.

 

Brian is 44 and lives with his partner Lucy and their two children, Isobel (10) and Brenna (7). Last July Brian was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma metastasis to his liver.Unfortunately the treatment at Christie’s is not available on the NHS at the moment. But Brian does not have the time to wait for this breakthrough treatment to become available routinely and needs your help to raise the funds to prolong his life.

 

If you would like to make a donation to Brian’s fund, then please either:

·         send a cheque payable to ‘Brian Munro Cancer Fighting Fund’ to BMCFF, c/o Madeleine Davis, 31B Gore Road, London, E9 7HP

·         make a donation online here:http://rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/BrianMunroCancerFightingFund

 

Thank you very much.

TPH Notice 19/13 - More important Changes to the important changes to the Disclosure and Barring Service Additional Information

Important Changes to the Disclosure and Barring Service Additional Information

Further to TPH Notice 18/13, this notice provides further information about the changes being introduced by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) on 17June 2013.

These changes will have a significant impact on all new and renewal applicants for taxi and private hire driver’s licences.

As advised in 18/13, in the event we are informed that the DBS has disclosed information to the applicant, we will write to them and ask him or her to send us their original certificate. This process will be undertaken on our behalf by TMG CRB, our service provider.

Applicants must respond to any correspondence from TMG CRB. Failure to do so could result in them not being licensed. We cannot process any applications until a result has been received on your CRB.

TMG CRB will pass a copy of the disclosure certificates to TfL before returning it to the driver. As previously stated, we will destroy our copy once a licensing decision has been made and TMG will not be retaining any copies.

As a result of introducing this process, TMG CRB will be increasing the fee they charge for processing disclosure applications. As of 17 June 2013, the fees charged by TMG CRB will be £56.85 for an online application and £58.85 for a paper application.

Applications in progress

All disclosures issued on or after 17 June 2013 will be issued to the applicant only, even if the application was made before this date. Applicants who have already submitted a disclosure application should be aware that it may be dealt with under the new arrangements.

Renewal applications

To allow sufficient time to accommodate these new arrangements, we will send licensed drivers licence renewal packs four months prior to the expiry of their licence and drivers intending to renew their licence are advised to complete and submit both their licence and disclosure applications without delay.

Helen Chapman
Interim General Manager, Taxi and Private Hire