IWGB blames black cab lobby for new regulations that will impose “unbearable financial burden” on dr

TfL's proposed regulations on private hire drivers will do little to improve safety while imposing burdensome costs on drivers that are already on the breadline, says Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) branch chair James Farrar. Last night TfL announced a consultation on a number of proposed measures including advanced driving tests and new signage requirements for drivers. The cost of many of the measures seem to fall exclusively on the drivers themselves, many of whom are earning below the minimum wage, while operators with budgets in the millions if not billions, such as Uber and Addison Lee, are left untouched. The IWGB has repeatedly called for improved standards for the private hire industry, such internal and external CCTV on cars, requiring first-aid training for drivers, 24-hours emergency telephone support for drivers and passengers, mandatory safeguarding training to be provided by operators, rest and toilet areas in central London, and an integrated and regulated safety management system, as exists in other transport industries such as rail, bus and air travel. IWGB UPHD branch chair and Uber employment rights case co-claimant James Farrar said: "TfL has once again bowed to the powerful black cab and operator lobbies and missed the opportunity to do something meaningful to improve safety, like mandating CCTV in all vehicles, requiring first aid training or ending sweatshop conditions by protecting worker rights. While we welcome the introduction of enhanced driver testing, it is drivers on below minimum wage that will be forced to foot the bill for these new requirements, not the rich private hire operators.”