The latest issue of the RMT London Taxi branch's newsletter reports on issues including pedicabs, emissions and satellite minicab offices.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download it.

The RMT London Taxi Branch has contacted the Department of Transport and requested emergency rank space be made available to the trade due to the ongoing problems with UK airspace which has effectively closed Heathrow and City Airports.

From Daniel Bedford, Communication Officer, RMT London Taxi Branch

Dear Colleague,

If you have not already done so please take time to register and have a look at http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk for all the latest news from the RMT London region, special thanks to Janine Booth for coming to our most recent branch meeting and talking about this and other matters that affect the London region.

RMT members from London Transport Region joined fellow members from around the country at Parliament last Wednesday to demand that MPs stop Network Rail going ahead with plans to scrap 1,500 maintenance jobs.

These photos come courtesy of RMT's London Taxis branch, who sent a delegation to the lobby.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download the leaflet. Read the text below.

Taxi touting just doesn’t damage the wealth and prosperity of London’s taxi-cab drivers but puts the travelling public in harm’s way and grave danger. Here at the RMT specialist transport union we intend to highlight to the media and the authorities the failings of all concerned when dealing with this problem.

Welcome to the very first issue of RMT Taxi branch news this will be a monthly newsletter aimed at you the self employed London taxi-cab driver. No adverts just plain simple facts and certainly not the fiction some of you may have been reading of late.

Read the text below; click '1 attachment' / file name to download the newsletter.

John Kennedy, Vice chair London taxi branch, writes ...

Clause 19 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) bill seeks to introduce a “voluntary registration” for pedicabs that will allow councils and transport for London to issue fixed penalty notices for parking and moving traffic offences. The scheme is voluntary and therefore no owner or rider is compelled to register and therefore there is no sanction for those who chose not to operate under the scheme. The Head of Transportation at Westminster city council intends to give up to 30 ranks/bays for pedicabs to park/operate from and this will lead to reasonable members of the public believing that these dangerous objects are in fact regulated by councils or TfL in London.

RMT's London taxi branch is holding a picket on Parliament Square, Windsor House (TfL HQ) and Westminster city council offices regarding the “London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) bill” ... ”No to 19” clause 19 of the bill.

This article explains cabbies' objections to this legislation.

Taxi union RMT have sent out a warning to BAA that they will not fall for stalling tactics after the company announced late on Friday that they are delaying their plans to undermine the black cab trade at Heathrow by allowing minicab company’s Addison Lee and One Transport to operate what is effectively a rank system at the airport.

RMT held a mass consultation with cab drivers at the feeder car park at Heathrow last week at which Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, pledged an all-out fight with BAA over their plans to deregulate taxi services on the airport.

Black cab driver members of specialist transport union RMT confirmed today that they will be fighting plans by BAA which would open the door to direct booking of minicabs at Heathrow in a move that has been described as “disastrous” for the licensed taxi trade.

BAA is looking at trialing a deal with Addison Lee and One Transport at terminals 3 and 5 this year which would allow them to operate from reserved bays and from a central booking booth in the car park in direct challenge to the traditional black cab rank.