Huddersfield taxi strike called off

Apr 30 2009 By Barry Gibson

TAXI drivers have called off a strike planned for tomorrow.

Cabbies intended to take industrial action to protest against a 62% hike in the licence fee renewal.

Drivers were due to strike between 6am tomorrow and 6am on Saturday.

But Amjad Nadeem, secretary of Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, announced yesterday that the strike had been called off to prevent disruption to Bank Holiday weekend revellers.

He said: "About 250 Hackney carriage and private hire drivers met in Dewsbury on Tuesday night. The majority voted against striking because of the disruption it would cause on the Bank Holiday weekend."

The drivers plan to hold demonstrations against the Kirklees Council price hikes instead.

Mr Nadeem said: "We will hold a peaceful protest outside Huddersfield Town Hall on Wednesday and another outside Dewsbury Town Hall the following week."

But he added that taxi drivers could take industrial action in the future. Mr Nadeem said: "The drivers are still aggrieved about the situation. It’s quite possible there could be a strike at a later date."

Taxi drivers had initially threatened strike action after the council’s Cabinet decided on April 15 to increase licence fees.

The annual charge for driver licence renewal is up by 62% from £37 to £60. Licences for Hackney carriage cars will rise from £106 to £135 a year and for private hire cabs from £125 to £135. Private hire company’s operating licences will rocket from £53 a year to £380.