Cabbies unhappy at increased costs
03.03.09
The latest in a series of rows between taxi drivers and their trade body could result in passengers being stranded at Birmingham Airport. The Birmingham Mail reports that cabbies have 'baulked' at a £540 payment to operate from the terminal, saying that the terms of the new contract negotiated by the Birmingham & Solihull Taxi Association (BASTA) will leave them out of pocket. The latest incident follows a disagreement last year over a £200 one-off fee for the right to use ranks at Birmingham’s NEC.
A 5 year deal struck by leaders of the association for the right to operate the lucrative airport patch will see the barrier fee paid by drivers every time they enter the rank rise from 75p to £2.10. However, many of the 400 drivers who are currently licensed to work the ranks say they will not pay this and have grown so frustrated with BASTA that they have begun legal proceedings to call an extraordinary general meeting.
Paul King, a driver in the city for 36 years, told the newspaper: ‘The association are acting like bully boys and we will not stand for it. They have sold us completely down the river. The new barrier fee is so high, it means we will be making a loss on some short trips to nearby airport hotels. But we can’t pick and choose what fares we take. There are about 400 drivers who work the airport and there are only 6 or 7 who have accepted the new terms and paid up.’
Mr King said that drivers had been sent letters telling them that unless they have paid at least £200 of the fee by today, they will be banned from the airport. He said: ‘We are not happy with the way the association is being run and we are calling the EGM with the intention of changing that.'
An airport spokesman told the newspaper that rates were set by BASTA and they had been told that 250 drivers had signed up to the new agreement. He said: ‘The rates paid by drivers are determined by their membership body. The airport company is not party to the pricing structure process set out by them.'
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