Coventry taxi cab strike ends on fifth day

A strike by taxi drivers in Coventry has been called off.



It follows four days of action over the increased number of cab licences in the city. Drivers said there were no longer enough taxi ranks.

But after a meeting on Tuesday, the black cab drivers said the council had agreed to stop issuing licences for the time being.

Coventry City Council said it had reached agreement with the drivers on a number of points.

'Constructive relationship'

Councillor Lindsley Harvard, cabinet member for city services, said: "I am pleased to say we had a very productive meeting with the chair and secretary of the Coventry Taxi Association.

"We have reached agreement on a series of points including agreeing to take all their issues to the Labour group meeting as previously planned on Monday 31 January. This includes the issue of a cap on licences.

"We will also be setting up additional meetings between council officers and the Taxi Association to ensure we move forward quickly.

"We are delighted the drivers are back at work and are confident we can maintain a constructive working relationship."

Imran Zaman (pictured above) from the Taxi Association said: "It's up to the Labour party group to decide if the (taxi licence) applications will be put forward.

"But the officers are recommending to them that the licences are not going to be put forward and normally the officers recommendations are very strongly taken in the council."

And the real losers in all of this? The taxi drivers that have lost 4 days worth on income!