Support ‘falls way short’: Scottish taxi and private hire industry SLAMS Scottish Government
Taxi and private hire unions have slammed the Scottish Government after eagerly awaited support “falls way short" of what is claimed to be needed to help a vastly struggling industry.
Kate Forbes, the SNP’s Economy Secretary, yesterday announced that taxi drivers will receive a second £1,500 coronavirus support grant from Scottish Government.
Taxi operators will also be contacted by their local authorities and receive tiered grants taking their total support up to £10,000.
As part of the controversial tiered system, individual taxi driver owners will receive a £1,000 grant, but that is much lower than what they were hoping for.
Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish Secretary, said: “Support is desperately needed and welcome but this is a sector that has been failed once again.
"We have regularly brought this to the attention of ministers and indeed the First Minister regarding the lack of support. The pleas of many within the trade have been ignored.”
He added: “This announcement falls way short for the vast majority of operators who manage less than ten cabs, and who continue to face high fixed costs at a time when the trade remains in crisis."
Monica Lennon MSP for Central Scotland said: “It’s disgraceful that the SNP has rowed back on its manifesto promises.
“A £10,000 grant for taxi operators would help businesses survive and recover from Covid.
“The SNP must deliver this lifeline support in full.”
A spokesperson from Unite Edinburgh Cab Branch said via social media: “Think it's fair to say that all of us in Edinburgh Cab Section are bitterly disappointed and angry at the support package offered by Scottish Government.
“Grateful that Kate Forbes agreed to meet us, but still don't think she realises the struggles taxi owner operators face.
“TRADE IN CRISIS”
The frustration was also felt in the private hire sector too. Driver representatives from the App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) released a scathing statement saying the support left drivers with a feeling of ‘abject disappointment and complete deflation’.
In the ADCU Scotland statement it read: “ADCU Scotland welcome the announcement of a second round of support grants for drivers and also welcome the release of details on grants being made available to operators/ licence holders, however we are dismayed to find out that the level of support being offered, again, falls short of what is needed. We, at ADCU, have been demanding “proper and meaningful support” to our industry and that has not been delivered.
“A top up of just £1,500 for drivers and a grant of just £1,000 for single vehicle operators just doesn't go anywhere near helping to cover the losses incurred over the past 14 months. Drivers, who are on the front-line of the pandemic and have been providing a vital service to the public, have been working a ridiculous number of hours just to make a dent in the bills."
The statement continues: “The overriding emotion today is not one of anger; it Is one of abject disappointment and complete deflation. We have been sorely let down by the Scottish Government, the UK government and by local authorities. Proper and meaningful support just isn't being delivered.
“The nuances of our industry seem completely lost on the Scottish Government. They do not understand that there are multiple methods of operation within our trades and, again, are leaving many people behind with this 'one size fits all'' approach. As an example, drivers that rent their cars and have been paying towards the fixed costs of a vehicle have been particularly short changed. Another aspect the government has shown ignorance over is the array of varying vehicle values and operating costs. Vehicles come with many different values, insurance premiums and running costs. These issues may have been overlooked and ignored if the level of support being offered across the board was meaningful, however what has been offered is, again, far too little and far too late.”
ADCU Scotland has now vowed to mobilise members to stage protests as a direct result of the announcement.
Next week, at 2pm on 9 June, members will be asked to form a Go-Slow Convoy in Glasgow to protest against the lack of overall support over the past 14 months and to demand that both the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council ‘dig deeper’ and deliver proper and meaningful support.
ALSO READ: Scottish Government announces SECOND £1,500 taxi driver COVID grant, plus funding for operators
