Dear Friend,
Just three months ago, very few had heard of United Trade Action Group ("UTAG"). In that short time period, UTAG has made our intentions patently clear that we shall fight to defend our trade from those that wish to seek us harm.
We have gained tremendous support from both sides of our fragmented industry, this illustrates the broad injustice and frustration felt by all. To date, we have been overwhelmed by the support, both vocal but most importantly financial, for without, we could not pursue the course of legal actions we identified to protect our illustrious industry. The desire to work professionally and collaboratively is evident from the volumes of donators and we intend to continue with this unified path, ignoring the neigh sayers.
At UTAG we started a movement, a movement based on the will of the people, a movement that has put our detractors on notice that the London taxi trade, the best taxi service in the world, is not going to sit idly by and allow others to dismantle us one piece at a time. We have shown that when we stand shoulder-to-shoulder, we can be a formidable force. The ongoing ITA protests are an indication of the resolve this industry has.
Our Judicial Review was a fight that the trade wanted to have based on a series of circumstances that appeared to link the Judge of Uber's licensing appeal, to Uber. Winning, although morale boosting, was never going to be a 'game changer' for the trade and the same applied to a loss. UTAG's arguments on behalf of the trade, were found to be meritorious by Mr Justice Walker, and we took on a formidable challenge, by challenging the Judiciary, demonstrating to all, our very deliberate intentions to fight wherever and whomever necessary to retain our jobs. Regrettably that initial challenge has proved to be insurmountable and we have learned that our submissions on bias have failed, as has our arguments regarding the granting of a probationary license. However, the failure to win the JR does not mean that UTAG fails, we shall fight on. To attain your badges, each one of you have already proved that you are fighters, you didn't give up at the first set back and neither shall UTAG. You fought to gain your badges and we must continue the fight to defend them.
Naturally, we are disappointed with the judgment but rather than comfort ourselves with self-pity, we must move on, time is not on our side. Our industry must not lose sight of our end game, nothing turns on this verdict, we must maintain our determination and desire to hold accountable those who have caused us harm. Our next course of action against TfL is set out on our website www.UTAG.london
Friends, we have lost the opening battle but the war for our survival very much rages on. UTAG took on the responsibility of the JR on behalf of the trade, to fight a necessary battle, however, a win was never going to be our panacea.
"...the object of waging a war is always to be in a better position in which to wage another war." ― George Orwell
To date, your financial support has been outstanding and we need for you to keep faith in UTAG for the massive battles ahead. With your assistance, we can still determine our own future. Whilst it has been strategically necessary to date to avoid answering questions relating to funding, we wish to share with you that UTAG has more financial contributors than UCG, LCDC, Unite and RMT have in combined memberships. The trades' support of UTAG has been overwhelming, however, we need more, we need for everyone to get behind UTAG and provide us with the financial resources to see us to the next stage of action, action against our regulator.
The battles ahead will be challenging but those battles shall define our future and whether we actually have one. We have the ability to determine our own future, let's not allow that opportunity to pass us by. Please continue your support of UTAG or now join in the fight. Now or Never.
Trevor Merralls & Angela Clarkson
Directors , United Trade Action Group Limited
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