Union warns of Kirklees taxi bosses ‘keeping cabbies cash’

The Union for taxi and private hire drivers, GMB, said it was given assurances Kirklees Council would continue paying taxi operators for school transport contracts, even though schools are closed.

This would enable the council to use these taxis for urgent delivery of food, supplies and transporting key workers across Kirklees, but unscrupulous taxi bosses are receiving the council’s money but are not passing the cash to drivers, according to the GMB.

GMB Organiser, Andrew Aldwinkle, said: “GMB are getting contacted most days by taxi drivers who have not been paid by their taxi operator.

“Taxi drivers have lost most of their income during lockdown and to have this regular money withheld by taxi bosses is another kick in the teeth.

“GMB Union has asked Kirklees Council to investigate every incident where a taxi driver is not being paid and to explore whether the actions of some operators is fraudulent,” he added.

A spokeswoman from the council, said: “We’ve contacted operators they should be passing payment on to drivers but if we do find that this is not happening, we will take action.”