Dear Members,
As we are all aware, some awfully difficult times have come for ex-taxi plate owners who have been robbed by their very own WA Government, as well as for the taxi drivers who are still providing services to Perth passengers. There has been NO appreciation from either Federal Liberal Government or the State Labor Government.
Our quest for justice has temporarily paused due to the spreadof COVID-19, nevertheless we decided to provide a shortupdate on our fight for full compensation:
There, the Attorney General accuses City of New York City of conning ‘medallion’ owners in NY and demands comprehensive compensation. Yes, there is a different system functioning there, but at least it shows leadership from a law maker defending ordinary people against careless transport bodies. The original article from New York Times is attached at the bottom of this TOLD Newsletter.
We’ve indicated in a previous Newsletter our intention to seek further legal action to get full compensation of $295,000 for every owner regardless of whether they have received $100,000 or $240,000 so far. In a country which is proudly promoting itself as ‘democratic’, this situation should not and will not to be forgotten. We are awaiting to meet with one of the most prominent lawyers in this country who intends to fight for us. Unfortunately due to travel restrictions our meeting has now been postponed. We will provide more information as soon as progress is made.
Once again, Rita Saffioti and Mark McGowan have failed to properly address another subsidy issue, subsequently, instead of supporting ‘the man on the road’ money was directed to the big companies. Rumours of another $2500 package to be distributed directly to all on-demand drivers will again discriminate the taxi drivers who will need to spend the money to pay for(compulsory) taxi camera, while the ride-share driverswill pocket the extra cash.
In the past TOLD have made several approaches to the Western Australian political elites indicating the impact of illegally operating ride-sharing companies and consequences of the Government inaction. Liberals, being the administrator at that time have ignored our pledge. Labor have promised us justice, and after winning the state election did not honour their promise. All TOLD members are also a members of Small Business Party (SBP), formerly Micro Business Party. This party meant to assist the Labor Party to win the previous state election. And YES WE DID help. Also,both political parties presumed that Small Business Party was a one election novelty, they are up for an unwelcome surprise. What they have done with the taxi industry isunfinished business. The SBP was originally created bythe taxi industry is now expanding to represent all small businesses in Western Australia. We are also talking to other minor parties who support our policies. Within the next few weeks a representative from the SBP will be contacting you, simply to check if your details have not changed. Please advise your friends and family members who joined SBP in order to support our cause, about thelikelihood of short phone call.
Decision of the Court on 31 March 2020
You may recall that Uber made a number of applications that were heard in September last year. Uber objected to the way we had articulated the case in the pleadings, and argued that the court did not have the power to deal with the matter.
In December, the judge rejected a number of Uber’s applications, but asked us to redraft some aspects of the pleading. We did this and provided a draft to the judge and Uber.
In a decision handed down on 31 March 2020, the judge found that our redraft of the pleadings was acceptable, and has made orders allowing the case to proceed. The defendants have been ordered to file a defence by 29 May 2020. Uber was also ordered to pay most of our costs in defending the application………………….more info; Uber@mauriceblackburn.com.au.
New York ordered to pay $810 million to debt-hit taxi drivers February 21, 2020
New York’s taxi industry has been upended by the arrival of ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft
New York must pay $810 million to its debt-ridden cabbies, the state attorney general said Thursday, accusing the city of fraudulently inflating the value of permits needed to drive its famed yellow taxis.
Letitia James, head prosecutor for the state of New York, said an investigation by her office showed that the auction price of thousands of permits, known as medallions, had been artificially inflated by hundreds of millions of dollars between 2004 and 2017.
The attorney general’s office alleged that the Taxi and Limousine Commission knew in 2011 that the price of medallions had passed actual value.
Yet the administrative body “published false and misleading medallion prices” in a number of cases, James’ office said, causing the price of a single medallion at auction to spike from $283,300 in 2004 to $965,000 in 2014.
The city allowed brokers and top players to collude on prices, the prosecutor said, as the TLC encouraged drivers to use the medallions as collateral for loans.
The state’s prosecutor said medallion prices were fraudulently set so high that drivers could not pay them off with their earnings from cab operation regulated by the city itself.
“These taxi medallions were marketed as a pathway to the American Dream, but instead became a trapdoor of despair for medallion owners harmed by the TLCs unlawful practices,” James said in a statement.
“The very government that was supposed to ensure fair practices in the marketplace engaged in a scheme that defrauded hundreds of medallion owners, leaving many with no choice but to work day and night to pay off their overpriced medallions.”
New York’s taxi industry has been upended by the arrival of ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft.
More than 950 licensed taxi drivers have declared personal bankruptcy since 2016, according to a New York Times investigation of court records published last year.
Recent years have also seen a spate of suicides from cab drivers suffering under crushing debt.
The sum of $810 million corresponds to the city’s revenues from medallion sales and resale tax, according to the attorney general, and must be paid within 30 days or James’ office intends to sue, it said.
Quote: “A fight for justice can only end when it is won” J.G.
