An online survey of taxi drivers has revealed the devastating impact on the trade with many harrowing stories from drivers who are struggling to financially survive. Many drivers are regularly working 16-17-hour days with a shift being determined as having been ‘good’ if £50 is cleared.
Unite Scotland has highlighted ‘loopholes’ in a number of Scottish Government schemes which have led to drivers being unable to access financial support.
The Unite Scotland survey shows that 30% of drivers have been unable to access any financial help from government support schemes. For those that have been able to access financial help from government:
37% report that it represents less than 25% of their average earnings;
18% report that it represents between 25% - 50% of their average earnings;
20% report that it represents between 50% - 75% of their average earnings;
25% report that it represents over 75% of average earnings.
The COVID19 crisis continues to have a devastating effect on the cab and taxi trade. Our members are reporting a 90% reduction in income. This is unsustainable and means that many owners and drivers are unable to cover their costs, let alone make a living to support themselves and their families.
We feel our members are the forgotten spoke in our public transport wheel, too many of our members are excluded from the government help available. This is leading to savings being exhausted, families forced in to poverty, bankruptcy and a mental health emergency. In our opinion, promises have been made to the trade that have been broken. The Scottish Government must act now. We are asking parliamentarians to support taxi drivers across Scotland and to deliver financial support to save the trade.
Our members demand:
• Access to business support, grants and loans;
• Additional funding for operators and drivers;
• A national stakeholder group to be set up to safeguard the future of the trade with trade union driver representatives involved as a key stakeholder;
• A review of Low Emission standards and implementation dates to give the trade additional time to adjust to Environmental targets.
Unite Scotland is asking the Scottish Government to adopt targeted schemes similar to those in Northern Ireland and Wales to support the taxi trade.