and owners could support a new cabbies' division of the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Federation president Joe Brown said the organisation was closed at an emergency meeting of committee executives yesterday afternoon.

And he said drivers and owners would now be urged to join the BIU and lobby Government for annual taxi rate reviews.

BIU President Derrick Burgess announced on Thursday that several drivers and owners had already joined the union -- and federation members, including Mr.

Brown, were also invited.

Mr. Brown said: "I wasn't in on the creation of the new taxi division of the BIU and therefore I won't be seeking a senior position on it.

"But I would encourage drivers and owners to join the union as there are several issues we need to put forward together now. We are in the 52nd year of having taxis on this Island and it's about time we had a unified voice.

"For the first time, we now have a chance to sing from the same hymn sheet.'' He said previous efforts to unite the taxi industry had failed -- including his own federation, the old Bermuda Taxi Owners' Union and the recently-formed Bermuda Taxi Owners Association.

Mr. Brown said: "Drivers and owners would be well advised to join the new arm of the union so we can go forward together.

"We are looking for continuity in our relationship with Government. One of the major issues is the ability to increase our rates, which we only seem able to do every ten years or so.

"We need to lobby so we can get those rates reviewed on an annual basis.'' The taxi arm of the BIU will be led by new branch president David Bean and vice-president Neville Darrell.

UNIONS UNS