Saturday, December 27, 2008

The NSW TWU’s Crime against Taxi Drivers

The NSW TWU’s Crime against Taxi Drivers
Taxi Industry Services Association of NSW


volume 29, No 4, March 1984 issue editorial, "we (the T.C. and NTIA) were placed in a position of being forced to a Determination rather than altering the previous Agreement because of a handful of owners who would not observe some aspects of that Agreement". In plain English the bailors continued their lawless ways despite getting their bailor/bailee relationship between owners and NOSETDs.

2.9.1. The Path to the new Determination went like this: after 1981 the bailors had to come up with new ways of carrying on their prel980 activities within the bailor/bailee system. So the fixed pay-in system made it's first appearance. The position in negotiations was reached when the bailors refused to agree to anything unless the TWU agreed to include fixed pay-ins in the new Contract Determination, The TWU, it's delegates, it's members and all taxi drivers refused to agree. The stalemate continued for nearly 12 months! The following events occurred and I make no comment on them, nor do I infer anything by them -
(i) One of the NOSETD delegates of the TWU, who helped to prepare the TWU's case
turned up at the hearing as a witness for the bailors. Subsequently he became a
"plate holder" and was elected to the Taxi Council board.
(ii) The Secretary of the TWIT Mr. E. McBeaty died in a boating accident.
(iii) The new secretary of the TWU Mr. H. F. Quinn ordered their legal representatives to agree to the bailers terms, fixed pay-ins and to wind up the case. They did so.
(iv) The Contract Determination 1984 came into effect 22.2.84.

2.9.2. The fact that fixed pay-ins got into the CD84, contrary to:
(i) All past practices,
(ii) All past recommendations of inquiries into the taxi industry,
(iii)All members of the TWU opposing it,
(iv) All taxi drivers opposing it
(v) The Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 to 1968 giving jurisdiction to the Commission to grant pay-ins only as a percentage of meter takings.

I leave for the Commissioner to ponder over and comment on.

2,9.3 The council representing the bailors was Mr. Callaghan. But it must be brought to the review's attention that Mr. R. Kermode played such an integral part of these proceedings that the Deputy President McMahon decided to
-----------------------------------------------------------¬
NOTES:
1. Refer Annexure “B” P153. 3. Refer Annexure "B" P125.
2. ,, ,, “A” 89 4. ,, ,, I.R.A.40-68 Sec. 91K.

Taxi Driver Entitlement under the Law

Taxi Driver Entitlement under the Law

TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AUSTRALIA
(NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH)
388 -390 SUSSEX STREET SYDENY 2000
E McBEATTY –Secretary Treasurer

SYDNEY: 2124A77
NEWCASTLE SUB-BRANCH: 69 3645, 693845
SOUUTH COAST SUB- BRANCH: WOLL 291753

18th December, 1979

Mr. R, Kermode,
Secretary,
Metropolitan Taxi Council
48 Oxford Street
PADDINGTON - 2021


Dear Mr. Kermode,

Since 1974, the Taxi Section of this Union has unsuccessfully attempted, to achieve, a new Taxi Drivers (State) Award to replace the current award made on the 8th March 1972 (1851G1413).We did not file a formal claim, but sought to negotiate before taking legal action. Without attempting, to apportion blame for the lack of success, we can at least agree that the efforts on both sides to resolve our differences failed to achieve any worthwhile results.

Accordingly, the Union decided to await the foreshadowed amendments to the N.S.W. Industrial Arbitration Act to establish tribunals empowered to arbitrate on the rates and conditions for Taxi Drivers.

These historic changes become legally effective by Proclamation on the 30th November, 1979.

As a result thereof, we are now seeking to obtain (preferably by consent) a Contract Determination under section 91K and/or a section 91H Agreement to cover Taxi Drivers: To this end, and consistent with our policy of fully exploring the Conciliation process before resorting to Arbitration, we have attached here to a Claim for discussion with your organization at a series of Conferences which we seek to commence as soon as possible.

We would appreciate your advice as to a suitable date for holding the first of such negotiations.

Yours Sincerely

T. Heir
Organiser
(Note: A copy of the Claim prepared by our Delegates is attached hereto).



TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AUSTRALIA
(NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH)
388 -390 SUSSEX STREET SYDENY 2000
E McBEATTY –Secretary Treasurer

SYDNEY: 2124A77
NEWCASTLE SUB-BRANCH: 69 3645
69 3845
SOUUTH COAST SUB- BRANCH: WOLL 291753

T.W.U. CLAIM Re: TAXI DRIVERS STATE) CONTRACT DETERMINATION, (DECEMBER 1979)

1. Minimum Rate of Commission:
Drivers shall be paid a minimum rate of commission, expressed as sixty per cent 60% of the chargeable fares earned.
2. Sick Leave.
Each driver shall be entitled during the -first year of the contract to
five(5)days sick leave and-to eight (8) days paid sick leave annually during
the second and subsequent years. Such payment shall be based on the drivers "average earnings" assessed over the week preceding such absence.
The rights under this clause shall accumulate from year to year, so that any part of the leave entitlement which has no been allowed in any one year may be claimed, and paid for, in a subsequent year of continued contract.
3. Annual Leave.
(a) Drivers shall be entitled to take four (4) weeks paid annual leave for each year of contract.
For the purpose of this clause, the driver shall be paid and, treated as though he was an employee covered by. the N.S.W. Annual Holidays Act, 1944.
(b) In the case of "Night Drivers", their entitlement under this clause shall be based on an annual leave period applicable of (5) weeks per year of contract in lieu of the four (4)weeks for ordinary drivers. At the time of his entering a perk of annual leave as above provided, each driver shall receive a "Loading'--of 25% extra, based on the annual leave payment due.
4. Long Service heave.
Drivers shall receive all benefits due to employees under the N.S.W. Long Service Act, 1955.
5. Public Holidays.
Each driver shall be entitled to absent himself on all public holidays without loss of pay. He shall be paid his "average earnings (based on the preceding weeks commission) for each such days of absence.
Where a driver works on a public holiday, he shall be paid his "average earnings"
(as above defined) plus $30.00.
6. Receipts for Payment.
Drivers shall receive receipts for all payments made to Bailors (Owners)and Taxi Co-operatives.
7. Air Conditioning.
All taxis shall be suitably air-conditioned without the driver incurring any expense or payment therefor.
8. Guaranteed Earnings.
A driver commencing work on any day shall receive guaranteed minimum earnings of at least thirty dollars (30.00) for that day.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Vilification of Taxi Drivers and Ethnic Groups

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS
Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015


'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'


Vilification of Taxi Drivers and Ethnic Groups


Based on a recent ongoing court case (regarding Kowsar Ali), some sections the media outlets are making attempts to vilify Taxi Drivers and some Ethnic Groups unfairly. We oppose and condemn such unfair forms of racism. We believe in the presumption of innocence for all equally, and are against trial by media. We strongly believe that cases such as that of Kowsar Ali should be strictly dealt with by the Judiciary and other law enforcement authorities. Such cases should not be used by anyone in the media to vilify all Taxi-Drivers and ethnic groups.


We also call upon the government to remove any ambiguity in the ‘Duty of Care” provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Regulations (regarding safety equipment), and to enforce such regulations regardless of bailor/bailee relationship. Namely, we are calling for the correct and effective functioning of all relevant safety equipment (alarm, GPS, camera, etc.) to be the sole legal responsibility of the operator. Reports by Keatsdale, Dalziel and Cook, were in full support of our ideas, which are in essence similar to the recommendations of Justice Edwards and Justice Beatie. Unfortunately, such previous good work by these authorities, was largely undone by the state Labor government through the appointment of Dave Maddan. Since then, the NSW Ministry of Transport has silenced this burning issue for the last four years by refusing to allow any Taxi-Driver participation in the Taxi-Driver Safety Task Force.




Faruque Ahmed
Media Manager
Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Monday, September 22, 2008

Compulsory Seat Belt for Taxi Drivers

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS
Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015
'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'


Compulsory Seat Belt for Taxi Drivers

The NSW Taxi Drivers Association condemns the idea of compulsory seat belt for taxi drivers because it considers that such a move will compromise taxi divers’ safety and will severely impact on their other industrial rights. Most importantly, our association failed to find any good reason in support of such a harsh, unjust, oppressive anti-taxi driver agenda.

Faruque Ahmed
Media Manager
Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Monday, September 22, 2008

Expulsion of Michael Jools from the NSW Taxi Drivers Association

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS
Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015
'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'


Expulsion of Michael Jools from the NSW Taxi Drivers Association

The above mentioned Michael Jools has been falsely claiming himself to be the President of the NSW Taxi Drivers Association for the last two years. In reality however, two years ago, this same person (Michael Jools) was expelled from our association for financial impropriety, as well as gross misconduct.


Faruque Ahmed
Media Manager
Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Monday, September 22, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

Taxi fares up as LPG price keeps rising – 20th June 2008, Sydney Morning Herald

Faruque Ahmed
P O Box – 349, Alexandria – 2015
Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email:
union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Blog:
Member of Parliament and Media Outlets


To
The Editor
Sydney Morning Herald



Re: Taxi fares up as LPG price keeps rising – 20th June 2008, Sydney Morning Herald



Dear Sir


“the fuel used by more than 90 per cent of taxi owners” (Taxi fares up as LPG price keeps rising – 20th June 2008, Sydeny Morning Herald) is serious distortion of the truth. In reality more than 90% non owner bailee taxi drivers pay for the fuel.




According to the law of the land, the bailor is responsible for fuel and wash.


However, at the Industrial Relations Commission the “taxi mafia” made an application to pass the responsibility of fuel and wash to the bailees without any compensation whatsoever.


During the proceedings, the TWU lawyer said to CC Connor, “we reserve the right to oppose at a later date” (was it a conspiracy?).


Further to ICAC Submission, long long ago; a “phantom strike” was called at Granville Taxi Base, Sydney, NSW of the ‘lucky country’! The TWU troubleshooter named Robert Mayell who used to work around the adjacent area quickly went over there and negotiated a settlement! The ‘Pay-in’ went down by five dollars!!


The following day, a number of taxi drivers were frog marched behind the “messiah” Robert Mayell at the Industrial Commission in front of CC Connor (NSW IRC Matter No 2383 of 1993).


No one is suggesting any conspiracy here! Poor Faruque and a few taxi drivers busted in anger and confronted the “messiah” Robert Mayell and the Transport Workers Union lawyer Adam Hatcher.

During that time those new taxi drivers of Granville asked Faruque to be quiet and follow Meyall. Faruque told them, “I do not know who you are and I have not seen you in any of TWU meetings earlier – who are you people and what is the game going on here”?



Later many of these people confessed to Faruque and others that they were not even members of the TWU, many of them were not financial members of the union and the taxi bosses encouraged them to join in the TWU!



The good CC Connor found the opportunity and then he keenly passed the responsibility of gas and wash to the bailees without any compensation whatsoever. He did so despite strenuous objections made to him by Faruque and other drivers.


The decision by CC Connor did not change the bailor/bailee remuneration principle or law, but he made a decision which was not opposed by the parties.A few weeks later the LPG price jumped from $A0.20-$A0.30/L to $A0.50-$A0.60/L.


An application was made to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on a different ground. After a futile exercise, the price went down for a while.
Today, who is increasing the LPG price and on what basis no one knows or cares. The net impact is the weaker party in the chain is carrying the burden while “taxi mafia” is laughing all the way to the bank. The TWU lawyer Adam Hatcher found a chamber at the higher end of the town and become a BARRISTER! The good union boss Steve Hutchins became the president of the NSW Labor Party and eventually a number one ticket SENATOR from NSW.


Taxi drivers made an appeal to the Full Bench.


After a long and costly exercise, we found out that only the TWU have the right to represent taxi drivers at the Industrial Commission! During that hearing the rights and wrongs of the actual case were not discussed.That means, in reality the court said the TWU can do whatever they like and they can ignore their own taxi driver members all together or their welfare! They are virtually not answerable to anyone. The union bosses do not have to follow justice, fairness, courtesy or common sense! Since then the union removed a few bi-laws of their own constitution i.e. they don’t have to advance the well being of their own members”. The law is same today.



Whether we drivers like it or not, even if the TWU got any taxi driver members or not they will decide the bailee taxi drivers working conditions. No matter, how sad, immoral and unlawful they are.
Faruque and others used to expose them in the media. However, the union bosses used to make attempts to trap taxi drivers and block them from the media, parliament, etc. etc. Some of the documents are very revealing.


I say, the most tragic thing of my life is that knowing and dealing with the NSW Transport Workers Union.


Thursday, December 20, 2007
Source:
Independent Commission Against Corruption



With thanks

Sincerely Yours


Faruque Ahmed
Media Manger
NSW Taxi Drivers Association
Friday, June 20, 2008

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Lime, Apple and GPS Taxis

Faruque Ahmed
P O Box – 349
Alexandria – 2015
Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@...
Blog:
Member of Parliament and Media Outlets


Mr. John Watkins
NSW Minister for Transport
Level 21, 227 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Telephone: (02) 9268 2800Facsimile: (02) 9268 2900


Re: Lime, Apple and GPS Taxis

Dear Mr. Watkins,

A few famous, wealthy, well connected and powerful people appeared in the horizon earlier to revolutionise the NSW Taxi Industry. They also said that they will improve the disable taxi service! During the process poor cabbies got a few more bad publicities and eventually new found ‘messiahs’ have disappeared from the taxi industry while they left some debris behind them!

I therefore would like to request you to provide us with the following information at your earliest convenience to ensure openness, accountability and transparency in the NSW Taxi Industry.
1. How many taxi plates were issued to Lime, Apple and GPS taxis by the NSW Department of Transport and Government?
2. What were the terms and conditions of those taxis mentioned in question “1”?
3. What mechanisms are in place to ensure those taxis mentioned in “1” are adhering to prescribed terms and conditions?
4. Do you have any mechanisms available to ensure that these taxi companies/networks adhere to NSW Occupational Health and Safety Acts, provide a safe and efficient service to passengers and drivers?

With thanks
Sincerely yours



Faruque Ahmed
Thursday, 12 June 2008

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Racism vs Taxi Drivers Safety in Victoria

Racism vs Taxi Drivers Safety in Victoria


Victorian Director General of Transport


It is the responsibility of civilized society to provide a safe workplace and safer work practices to workers under the Occupational Health and Safety legislation under the Duty of Care provisions. It is also a fundamental right of a worker to work in a safe work place that adheres to safe work practices.


In the state of New South Wales we had the Keatsdale Report, Dalziel Reports and Cook Reports which are relevant to to-days taxi drivers' safety initiatives in NSW. I believe the current Victorian taxi driver’s safety issues are not too different to their NSW counterparts. You are welcome to contact your NSW counterparts to obtain copies of these reports mentioned for some assistance or guidance should you wish to do so.


The commendable multicultural, Melbourne taxi drivers’ spontaneous blockade/strike was a genuine and legal one. No one should dismiss or minimise their great effort with blatant and pseudo racism as we have witnessed recently. For example, taking off shirts on a wintry night as these drivers did was a symbol of their actual working conditions and the industrial reality that they experience. These taxi drivers do not have cameras, a global positioning system, workable safety shields or anything in this so called 21st century Victorian work environment. In terms of safety, they are virtually naked and unprotected.


When super models take their bikinis or bras off in the middle of the town center to high light or draw attention to their causes, there is barely any criticism. That situation is unlike the recent outcry directed to these vulnerable Victorian taxi drivers and the protest style they used. Recent murmurings and attempts to smear Indian students in general, many of whom were involved in this Victorian protest, and their living practices so as to undermine and destruct these taxi driver’s spotlighting of unacceptable working conditions are purely racially driven. Many European and American backpackers and students also live in an identical cost effective and uncomfortable manner as some Indian students and by extension Indian origin taxi drivers are purported to do. This is blatant generalization designed to undermine the whole issue, which is the shameful and unsafe standard of working conditions and safety being experienced by Victorian taxi drivers.


Surely, a student or any workers poverty should not deny or diminish their basic industrial and safety related rights.



Faruque Ahmed
Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Wednesday May 14, 2008



CC: NSW Director General of Transport

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

NSW to Victorian Taxi Drivers’ Safety

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS
Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015


'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'




NSW to Victorian Taxi Drivers’ Safety



Taxi drivers used to be expendable commodities like the ANZACS to the British. Greedy taxi networks and companies did nothing to save human lives. However, due to the courageous stand of a few dedicated taxi drivers, the NSW community got the Keatsdale Report, Dalziel Report and Cook Reports; all vital in achieving taxi driver safety. The grateful community of NSW gave enough money thorough the “$1.00 flag-fall rise” for taxi-drivers’ safety with the GPS and screen recommendations of the Keatsdale Report. The NSW government then extracted $40.00 a day from the vulnerable taxi drivers for their own safety. In return they got unworkable cameras and unreliable GPS systems. All of those little achievements are going to be buried by the partisan Madden Report- under the leadership of the NSW Labor Government. Tragically this $1000.00 per word David Madden Report is without any direction or vision whatsoever.


In the meantime two more taxi drivers were brutally murdered in NSW and many more were robbed and injured.


Today with our Victorian colleagues stood up for their own safety in facing down the police in Melbourne.


Channel Nine sinking to unfortunate disparagement and calculated derision of taxi drivers amounting to veiled racism could not resist the insult of describing the attention winning stunt on the part of the drivers of removing their shirts in the wintry weather thus " for reasons best known to themselves drivers removed their shirts". How puerile.


Penultimately what drivers want here in NSW and undoubtedly Victoria is workable legislation, regulation and mechanisms ensuring workers’ safety to save lives.



Faruque Ahmed
Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Cabcharge and Criminals

Cabcharge and Criminals

Right now action should be taken to declare, “the Cabcharge is the proceeds of crime and all proceeds should be seized by the government and eventually to be utilized for the public and workers’ safety, welfare and benefit”.


Contact Officer: Monica Bourke
Contact Phone: 02 6243 153 1
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
GPO Box 3131
Canberra ACT 2601
23 Marcus Clarke Street
Canberra ACT 2601
tel: (02) 6243 11 11
fax: (02) 6243 1 199
18 April 2008



Mr Faruque Ahmed
PO Box 349
Alexandria NSW 2015
Dear Mr Ahrned


Re: Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis


I refer to your emails dated 29 November 2007 and 28 March 2008 regarding the removal of decals advertising Cabcharge products.


Review of Taxi Authorisations
As you are aware, on 11 March 2005 the ACCC issued a determination regarding its review of twelve taxi authorisations (including authorisation A301 12 granted to Deluxe Red and Yellow Cabs) concerning the provision of radio booking services to taxi operators and drivers on the condition that they accept certain forms of non-cash payment (card and voucher payments) and the display of decals of those payment methods.


The ACCC considered that cards and vouchers would continue to be widely accepted with or without authorisation, however decided not to revoke the authorisations on the basis that there existed some small benefit in the certainty provided by the authorisation and negligible detriment.



Tribunal decision
The Commission's determination of 11 March 2005 was appealed to the Australian Competition Tribunal. The Tribunal decided on 27 June 2006 to revoke the authorisations on the basis that the benefit of certainty of acceptance of non-cash payments was not sufficient to sustain the authorisations. The Tribunal agreed with the ACCC's proposition that irrespective of the authorisations, taxi operators and drivers are likely to continue to accept non-cash payments.




Eflect of the Tribunal decision
The revocation by the Tribunal of the twelve authorisations means that the networks which previously had authorisation can no longer engage in the conduct without being at risk of action under the Trade Practices Act. Whether or not specific requirements would raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Act would depend on the specific nature of the requirements imposed.


However, the ACCC and the Tribunal expected that cards and vouchers would continue to be widely accepted absent authorisation. Taxi operators and drivers are entitled to advertise the cards and vouchers they accept. Should certain taxi operators and drivers not accept certain cards and vouchers, but advertise on their taxis that these cards are accepted, such could amount to misleading conduct.




Yours sincerely



Isabelle Arnaud
Director
Adjudication Branch


--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "jasonnash80" wrote:
Re: Dear Patricia


Racism to Long Bay Hilton


The taxi mafia used lies and racism to get the Trade Practices Authorisation back in 1980s.


TPC Determination P 22 … "By reason , inter alia, of the ethnic diversity of taxi drivers … a need for discipline and clearly and simply defined systems"


--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "mamubhi" wrote:
Re: Dear Patricia





This
barrybullman should have refrained to call others stupid because the mighty Cabcharge and the NSW Taxi Council Pty Ltd failed to argue with Mr. Faruque Ahmed or points of contentions presented by him in front of three wise Judges! At the end the taxi mafia lost the case.



Right now Mr.
Faruque Ahmed and others should have cornered the taxi mafia properly and organized a permanent residency for Mr. Kermode at the Long Bay Hilton. Alas! Some detractors under the guise of taxi industry activists like Nelson and Jools are always wasting Faruque's time and letting Kermode get away with murder. What a sad state of affairs!!




--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "union_faruque" wrote:
Re: Dear Patricia


Beside the unintelligent and uninformed comment of `nobody', the Cabcharge is a proceed of CRIME and therefore all assets of Cabcharge should be confiscated by the good government immediately and utilized for public and workers' safety.


--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "union_faruque" wrote:

Dear Patricia


I have not received any further information beside your initial note below in response to my original correspondence.

With thanks


Faruque Ahmed
Friday, March 28, 2008


Subject: Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis
Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:53:31 +1100
From: "Infocentre" Add to Address Book
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED


Dear Mr. Faruque,

Thank you for your email of 3 December 2007 to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) requesting the removal of Cabcharge decals from Taxis.

The role of the ACCC is to ensure compliance with the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA), which is designed to encourage fair trading and discourage anti-competitive conduct through a specific set of competition and consumer protection rules. It is only when there is a contravention of the TPA that there may be a role for the ACCC.

The information provided in your email has been passed on to the relevant area of the ACCC. You will only be contacted if further information is required.

As part of its role the ACCC also monitors emerging trends across consumer and business complaints to determine whether there is a pattern of behaviour by a particular trader or in a particular industry that requires attention. In this regard, your complaint has been recorded and is an important part of our ongoing analysis.

Thank you for contacting the ACCC with your concerns.


Yours sincerely



Patricia
ACCC Infocentre
1300 302 502



From: Faruque Ahmed [mailto:union_faruque@...] Sent: Sunday, 2 December 2007 7:35 PMTo: FOISubject: Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis




Faruque Ahmed
P O Box – 349
Alexandria – 2015
Mobile: 041 091 4118
Thursday, November 29, 2007

Mr. Graeme Samuel

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
GPO Box 3131
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Ph: 02 6243 1244Fax: 02 6243 1210
Email: foi@...



Dear Mr. Samuel,


I request that the ACCC move to take action forcing requirement that taxi entities be compelled to remove from surface areas of taxi cabs, decals proclaiming and advertising Cabcharge products.



Originally taxi cooperatives (not taxi companies or networks) obtained "the authorisation in contention" to subject workers in the taxi cab industry to perform for Cabcharge from the then Trades Practices Commission by not telling the truth, twisting the truth and using racism. Ultimately, the original applicants, specifically the Red and Yellow Deluxe have used many false claims "for their own narrow benefit" with impunity.

Fortunately this issue was largely dealt with to my satisfaction in TPC in matterA30152.

Since then, we have been asking the ACCC and other relevant departments to remove the Authorization A30112. Surprisingly, they are very reluctant about it.

Finally, in Matter No - 3 of 2005 of the Australian Competition Tribunal, Justice Goldberg and three other eminent Judges revoked the contentious authorization which gave the Cabcharge the "exclusive power" and "monopoly" in the first place. It is interesting to note that during the proceeding neither the taxi network nor the Cabcharge made representation as to the (their) case.

The fact is, the then TPC then made a mistake back in 1984- since then the Federal Competition Tribunal corrected the anomaly.

The ACCC used it's power, authority and creativity to compel all taxi owners of this country to display the Cabcharge decals and therefore accept the Cabcharge cards and dockets.

Now, the ACCC must do everything to remove the Cabcharge decals from all taxis as they are false advertisement and NOT legally required in the first place.

With thanks



Faruque Ahmed
Source:
Sydney Taxi Corruption

Saturday, March 15, 2008

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS
Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015


'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'

MACQUARIE AIRPORT TAXI TROUBLES CONTINUE



Since the use of Capsicum spray on a taxi driver at the Sydney Airport operations have been on edge.

On Friday afternoon the
Airport E-tag control system failed again, this time for a relatively new taxi driver Darren Han. As so often happens. To the huge frustration of all taxi drivers and Wilson staff.

Darren was stopped from picking up a fare after others were allowed through. At least 5 Federal Police and 3 Wilson staff surrounded him. Flustered, Darren under extreme pressure and intimidation may have selected Drive instead of Reverse when told to move his taxi. He was verbally and racially assaulted and punched, he claimed.

The Airport issued him a fine and the Police ordered him to go to Mascot Police Station where he was held for 7 hours and charged with Negligent Driving!

If any of these things happened then the
Sydney Airport is out of control! This driver was only helping the Airport by picking up passengers.
The NSW Taxi Drivers Association held high level Airport meetings to prevent future Capsicum situations occurring.

When will sanity return to Sydney Airport?!

Faruque Ahmed
Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Monday, February 11, 2008

Monopoly and de-Regulation of the Taxi Industry

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS
Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015


'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'



Monopoly and de-Regulation of the Taxi Industry




Once upon a time taxi plate licenses were free. Many were issued to returned soldiers who looked after the cab, worried about fares being too high, and earned a modest living.
That fairytale ended in 1980’s when the Government decided to “sell” the taxi plates to the highest bidder. Many of these new owners lived overseas, concerned only about the value of their investment. Mr. Reg Kermode "bought" many plates from ex soldier widows, became Mr. Taxi Big and invented the unfair and oppressive monopoly called the Cabcharge system. Taxi drivers became the short term cannon fodder, losing their long term skills, earning a pittance waiting on ranks most days and nights, with passengers grumbling at peak times.
Now Prof Allan Fels suggests the economists' doctrinaire "deregulate", double the number of taxis, reduce the value of taxi plates and make the drivers' lot even worse. Unfortunately such taxi deregulation has succeeded in few if any places in the world, but instead has given the public fly by night

COWBOY TAXIS.
The NSW Taxi Drivers Association solution is to issue new free, non tradeable taxi plates in response to proven passenger demand to 5 year experienced taxi drivers to build careers and continue to improve decent taxi services to the public.
Plates will completely lose their value and taxi fares will reduce as Allan Fels suggest. However, why deregulation of any kind is another fairy tale is because the 'Mr Kermodes' will lose their power and the Govt its lucrative plates revenue.





Faruque Ahmed
Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118
Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au
Monday, 11 February 2008

Monday, February 4, 2008

7.30 Report, Australia Wide or To whom It May Concern

7.30 Report, Australia Wide or To whom It May Concern


The Taxi Industry is a SERVICE industry. It got no resemblance with the Stock Exchange or Casino. Our aim is to provide service to the public. The so-called value of taxi plate is NOT relevant at all.

The State OWNS all taxi plates. The government of the day can alter, suspend or vary any taxi licenses for the benefit of the public. Therefore, no one has to be compensated in case of regulation or de-regulation. The High Court of Australia also said the same thing. You see, no one pays Sales Tax when they “buy” a taxi plate! In reality they pay Transfer Tax only. So this ridiculous notion of compensation should be out of question when the question of regulation or de-regulation appears at the horizon.


Similar to Company Registers, the Taxi Register should be open to the public. Yet, the taxi register is secret for a long time. So, we do not know who really owns taxis and therefore the possibility of owning taxi plates by unsavory people and thereby their influence can’t be dismissed. Many industry experts suspect, current system is running contrary to public interest and compromising the public and worker safety in favor of the taxi mafia.

The Nexus Taxi Plate issue is a blatant scandal. Governments have given millions of dollars worth of public assets (taxi plates) to taxi companies so that they will provide special service to the communities in need. However, they took these plates and double dipped both the public and taxi drivers for eternity without providing services required by them! Despite repeated requests no one would like to investigate this scandal.




Faruque Ahmed
Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118

Friday, January 25, 2008

The Dirty Politics of Clean and Green LPG

NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION

INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS

Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015

'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'

The Dirty Politics of Clean and Green LPG

The clean and green energy LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is lighter, easier to process, contains lesser energy, and does not attract Excise Duty like other petroleum products! Most importantly, it is a waste product! Therefore the current LPG price hike is totally unjustified and immoral indeed.

The oil companies LPG division’s recent exuberant profit margins and Australian Petroleum Institute’s data will prove the above beyond reasonable doubt.

Therefore the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Petrol Commissioner must include products like LPG, Petrol, Kerosene and Lube oil in it’s jurisdiction with wider terms of references for the benefit of the public and ensure fairness.

Faruque Ahmed

Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118, Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au

Saturday, January 26, 2008


For more: LPG to Iraq and Discrimination