Drivers ‘not pressurised into course’

I WRITE in response to the letter about drivers being pressurised into the taxi training course.

First of all, Unite union did not propose training for Dundee drivers.

It was introduced because of the number of taxi drivers that were appearing in front of the licensing committee for misdemeanours whilst working in the city.

Regarding Unite union not looking after its members, it is quite the opposite.

Our members get the course for free with their membership.

The assessors are qualified by SQA and run the courses four hours a day, one day a week, for four weeks. Most drivers attend on their day off. The assessors themselves are taxi drivers who have many years of experience.

If the person who sent in this letter would like to get in touch with Unite union in Dundee they are more than welcome to come along and sit in on a course to find out exactly how the courses are run and delivered.

Or maybe they could speak to some of the union members who have now completed the course.

All drivers must have completed three modules of a course before May 31 to get a three-month extension on their taxi badge.

Unite union will have put through 400 drivers.

Overall, from the courses that are available at D&A College and all the taxi offices, there will be 1,000+ drivers through by May 2017.

C. Elder, Unite tAxi rAn£h se£retAry.