Taxi drivers’ strike: the meter stops running

Taxi drivers in Coventry have been striking over the lack of taxi ranks in the city, causing disruption to Warwick students returning from their Christmas break.

The black-cab drivers went on strike at 5pm on the Friday before the start of term. They have said that the council are issuing too many licences for the size of the city and there is no longer enough space in ranks.

The debate, which has been ongoing for nine months, came to a head when one driver was cautioned after illegally parking in Pepper Street, resulting in the strike action.

One first-year told the Boar they “had to drag a heavy suitcase, a rucksack and another bag onto the number 12 bus” for which they had to wait 20 minutes. “There were lots of taxis at the railway station but they were all empty and had signs on their windows that said they were on strike,” he said.

One international student said: “I had been on a long, delayed flight from Singapore and got to Coventry late Saturday night. I really wasn’t in the mood for the taxi strike and was very annoyed about having to get the bus with my luggage.”

Some taxi drivers also parked outside the Council House as part of the protest. The drivers say they are forced to park illegally because the lack of space at ranks is becoming a big problem.

Imran Zaman, chairman of the Coventry Taxi Association, said: “This is the only way to get the council to take notice. There are 900 taxis but only 130 spaces. People in Coventry have been very supportive of us. They have seen the parking problems we have and understand why we did this.”

The strike was finally called off after a meeting with the council on Tuesday 11th January. The council has agreed to stop issuing licences for the time being.

Councillor Lindsley Harvard said: “I am pleased to say we have had a very productive meeting. We have reached agreement on a series of points including agreeing to take all their issues to the Labour group meeting as previously planned on Monday 31st January. This includes the issue of a cap on licences. We are confident we can maintain a constructive working relationship.”

Despite the optimism from the Council, driver Mohemmad Qasim said the drivers were willing to stage further strikes if nothing is done.

“This has been going on long enough now,” he said. “The council can’t keep brushing the issues under the table.”

Taxi driver of 25 years Mr G. Singh said the demonstrations are necessary to show the frustration of city cab drivers.

“The strike is one way we can bring the problem to the public’s attention,” he told the Coventry Telegraph. “We don’t want our customers to suffer but we have to do this.”

It is now up to the Labour party group to decide if the taxi licence applications will be put forward.