’I CAN’T FEED MY FAMILY’: Private hire drivers block TfL office over licence renewal delays
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 10 minutes ago
Private hire drivers staged a blockade outside Transport for London’s Stratford office on Thursday afternoon, calling for urgent action on licensing renewal delays.
The protest, led by the IWGB Union, saw dozens of drivers link arms and obstruct the main entrance to the building from 1.30pm. Placards reading “I can’t feed my family” and “TfL: End this licence hell” were held aloft, as chants of “If we can’t work, you can’t work” rang out.
This is the fourth protest organised by the union in response to what it calls a growing crisis for private hire drivers in the capital. Hundreds are unable to legally work due to expired licences that TfL has not yet renewed. Some drivers have reportedly been out of work for months, facing mounting debt, car repossessions and homelessness.
TfL has blamed the delays on a cyberattack last year and problems linked to the rollout of a new IT system. Although it has since introduced emergency licence extensions following pressure from the IWGB, the union argues that the process remains slow and patchy.
Earlier on the same day, IWGB representatives appeared before the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, alongside other unions. They criticised TfL’s current action plan, saying it lacked clear steps to resolve the backlog and prevent further disruption to drivers’ livelihoods.
Nader Awaad, Chair of the IWGB Private Hire Drivers Branch, said: "The IWGB continues to lead the fight against TfL’s license delays, which are devastating the lives of countless drivers. Time and again, we’ve taken to the streets and confronted TfL on their doorstep. That pressure has delivered some results — we’ve already helped hundreds of drivers get back on the road — but TfL is still falling far short of what’s needed to fix this crisis. We urge any drivers affected by these delays to reach out and join the fight."
