TAXI DRIVER ASSOCIATIONS

The AUSTRALIAN TAXI DRIVER'S ASSOCIATION is the umbrella group representing taxi driver associations around Australia, and it is also the direct representative of taxi drivers in Sydney. Cabbies are a very mixed bunch,and extraordinarily hard to organise. They all have strong views about almost everything and never have the time or opportunity to get together.

TAXIS is a system designed to benefit taxi drivers, and give them that opportunity to get organised .....

For that purpose,while every taxi driver can freely use our payment system, and make a 2% commission on the fare, only those taxi drivers who are members of the ATDA are able to access the taxi job offer system. It's also a safeguard for passengers to know that their driver is a professional driver with a committment to his industry, and an interest in his fellow workers.

It is also the long term intention of the ATDA to improve driver safety.

In each of the States there are differing standards and rules on driver safety and on the levels of minimum safe workplace conditions. Workers Compensation for injuries varies widely from not at all to assumed coverage. Sick Pay, Annual Leave and Long Service Leave are equally abstract notions, even though in NSW there is 'notional' entitlement. NSW in this case stands for Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong and not for the whole of the State of NSW. But even then there is a catch - Newcastle and Wollongong were "leave reserved" and are still not formally included in the Industrial Relations Commission coverage.

Cameras are now required equipment in taxis, but their effectiveness is limited to major assaults and murders. Fare evasions and "minor" assaults are still regarded by the authorities and Poice as an occupational hazard to be borne by the driver. The new NSW specifications are a backwards step with only one picture every ten seconds as the standard requirement.

The ATDA membership fee of $35 a year includes a $10 cross payment to the local State or Regional Association and local membership can be extended by a $25 payment to the ATDA. The National Association seeks to work on behalf of all Australian Taxi Drivers, and at present, focuses on Sydney drivers out of a simple lack of resources. As TAXIS grow so will the ATDA.

As a start up bonus and encouragement to sign up, the membership fee has been waived for the time being --

MEMBERSHIP IS NOW FREE !!!!

Taxis is all about giving you a better service.