Boycott threat by city's black cab drivers

CAB drivers are threatening to boycott Glasgow's biggest taxi firm.

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They are furious at a controversial decision by black cab owners to force them to pay an annual registration fee of £50 plus VAT for use of a radio system operated by Glasgow Taxis.

Hundreds of drivers are set to vent their anger at a meeting being held by Unite Scotland at the city's Thistle Hotel in Cambridge Street tonight.

Union official Drew Connelly, who represents the taxi industry today, warned that drivers will be given three options to consider.

He said: "It's beyond belief that Glasgow Taxi's executives, who know full well the conditions drivers are facing, have imposed this cash grab without any consultation.

"Drivers are at breaking point. It's a choice between walking away from employment and joining the dole queue or increasingly slogging it out in a vicious circle of low pay and long working hours.

"Drivers contribute significantly to handsome profits for the firm and provide an important public service yet find their own earnings going downhill rapidly.

"This is unsustainable and tonight's collective response has been a long time coming."

The firm operates more than 550 'black Hacks' across the city with more than 2000 drivers some of whom have threatened to quit rather than pay the controversial fee by the deadline day of next Monday.

Mr Connelly said drivers will be given three options: ditch their opposition and pay up; call on owners to delay the payments and enter into talks; or agree a drivers' boycott.

A spokesman for the firm said: "This fee amounts to a cost of around 90p per week and provides drivers with access to a large number of key services.

"Any boycott decision would seem incredible - over the issue of less than £1 a week."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk

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