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SADIQ KHAN was accused of "dithering" today over strengthening the rights of London’s private cab hire workers.
The IWGB union, which represents precarious workers, said the London mayor had “taken no action” to “eradicate sweatshop conditions prevalent” in the private hire industry.
Recent proposals by the mayor to make below-minimum-wage minicab drivers pay the congestion charge was also criticised.
The union claims the move will reduce take-home pay for private hire drivers by around £250 per month and force drivers to work approximately 11 more hours a week to make up for missing wages.
Operators such as Addison Lee have openly admitted that the cost of the charge will fall on the drivers themselves rather than the company or the consumer.
Doubt was also cast upon the consistent refusal by Transport for London (TfL) to recognise formal trade union representation for minicab drivers in its stakeholder programme, with the IWGB claiming that Mr Khan is denying a voice to London’s 114,000-strong, predominantly ethnic minority, cab drivers.
The union has also written directly to the mayor demanding that he takes action on securing the London Living Wage for drivers, following a dramatic decision by New York City Council earlier this week to halt private hire licensing and legally enshrine the right of Uber drivers to a living wage.
IWGB united private hire drivers’ branch chair James Farrar said that it is time for Mr Khan to “take meaningful action” to end the long-established troubles of London’s cab drivers.
“The mayor needs to find a way to immediately suspend runaway private hire licensing in London and he must tell firms like Uber and Addison Lee to obey UK employment law if they want to keep operating in London.”