The media is giving ‘free advertising’ to app-based company Uber, according to GMB London.
The Professional Drivers Untion has reported the most consistant complaints from London taxi drivers is the use of the work ‘taxi’ and ‘uber’ in articles which relates to other areas of the industry. In a list of detailed ‘glossary of terms’ relased by the GMB highlight the differences between the most common used phrases.
Steve Garelick, GMB Regional Officer said; “Press and TV often use the word ‘Uber’ for private hire. It shows that talk about getting an ‘Uber’ or ‘Ubering’ are giving free advertising to a non-tax paying company. Subsequently we decided it would be pragmatic to send out an advisory to the press.”
The list released by GMB Union looks like this…
Hailed taxi – taxi, London or local jurisdiction, not minicab or private hire
Hailed cab – taxi, London or local jurisdiction, not minicab or private hire
Street cab – taxi, London or local jurisdiction, not minicab or private hire
Street taxi – taxi, London or local jurisdiction, not minicab or private hire
Taxi – taxi, London or local jurisdiction, not minicab or private hire
London taxi – taxi, London or local jurisdiction not minicab or private hire
Black cab – taxi, London or local jurisdiction not minicab or private hire
Cab – taxi, London or local jurisdiction, not minicab or private hire
Taxi cab – taxi, London or local jurisdiction, not minicab or private hire
Private hire – chauffeur, minicab, pre-booked car
Mini cab – minicab, pre-booked car
Chauffeur – executive car or liveried chauffeur, e.g. BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover, Rolls Royce, Bentley or Jaguar
Limo – stretch limo
Pre-booked car / driver – minicab, saloon etc
Booked car – minicab, saloon etc
Executive car – pre-booked car e.g. Mercedes, BMW
Uber – app-based private hire service.
