by John Kennedy

Well it was only a matter of time before for the specialist transport union within the transport industry opened a branch for London taxi-cab drivers. This isn’t about personal politics but it is certainly about the representation taxi-cab drivers feel they have received to date from the more established taxi trade organisations like the LTDA and the cab section of the trade union UNITE.

Love him or loath him Bob Crow General Secretary of the RMT stands up for his members wishes/mandates and certainly earns the salary paid to him by his many thousands of members and whilst other trade unions seek to merge because of declining membership numbers unions like the RMT have targeted skilled transport workers and backed them up when it really matters. Protecting the living standards of its membership is a real and vital part of the job of any union, to me as a outsider it seems the RMT do just that protect their membership and ensure they do not pay the price of bad management or Government policy.

The more traditional associations and unions should be concerned within the taxi trade because this isn’t just any union without pedigree, it is the one union that seems able to shock transport for London into a reaction at the mere mention of its name. Only last week the newly formed taxi branch held a demonstration outside the offices of Westminster City Council who derided the action of the union members but was very quick at offering talks.

It seems in a very uncertain world and workplace whether you are employed or self employed those in authorities will continue to take liberties with your working conditions. Unions like the RMT have a very bright future and certainly have a very important role to play within London’s taxi trade and the fact that the branch here in London is growing at a blistering pace is evidence that the apathetic tide may well be turning and the return of a well organised voice for the capital’s cabbies is only months if not weeks away.