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From The Socialist newspaper, 22 September 2021
Leeds taxi drivers and disabled passengers unite to fight station changes
Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party
photo: Leeds Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
The anger of taxi and private hire drivers at the Labour-run council is palpable. Socialist Party members joined drivers in the Unite union, disabled taxi users and Unite Community activists to protest redevelopment plans by the council and Network Rail which will move the taxi rank outside the station.
Wasim, one of the drivers at the protest, explained to us: "The taxi rank is just outside one of the entrances, with a sheltered area for four taxis and space for 33 taxis in total to queue on a private road leading up to it. Under the new arrangements, this will be moved further away, with space for just six taxis in total, which is totally inadequate given how busy the station gets."
Despite a consultation run by the council, a Unite survey showed 76% of respondents were unaware of the plans. 75% said it should remain at its current location.
One driver told me that at the planning meeting to discuss the redevelopment, all the Labour councillors just deferred to the decisions of the full-time officers, rather than take a stand in defence of taxi drivers and disabled people. He had been a Labour Party member, but had now left in disgust.
Unite members on the protest were clear - the redevelopment plans will cause chaos for them, and for those wanting to use their taxis from the station. Therefore the campaign to oppose it will continue until the council and Network Rail are forced to revise these plans.
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In The Socialist 22 September 2021:
What we think
Workers' politics won't come from Labour
News
Energy market chaos makes the case for nationalisation
Tory cuts to Universal Credit: we need a union fightback
Interview: Bakers' union to vote on Labour disaffiliation
Tax fraud could be over £20 billion annually
Life expectancy falls - a condemnation of capitalism
Feature
Socialists and the four-day week
Occupy
Workplace news
End the teaching workload crisis
MOJ pay deal accepted - we demand 10%
Workers at 13 colleges to strike over pay
New strike dates in EMR guards dispute
Oaks Park strikers call eleven days' more action
International
Campaigns
Unemployment, low pay, rip-off uni fees, climate change... Join the fight for Socialism
Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs relaunched
W Sussex 'disability tax' - protest not going away
Fighting evictions in Cornwall
Leeds taxi drivers and disabled passengers unite to fight station changes
Socialist Students: Youth lit up when they saw us
York: Non-binary and trans rights protest
Readers' opinion
TV Review - Help: Heart-wrenching portrayal of Covid care home crisis
Gleision mine deaths: Still fighting for justice
Who pays for the climate crisis?
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2021