President of the United Minibus Union (UMU) Ian Andrews says that the umbrella body has two objectives. First, it is working to repair the shoddy reputation of the sector which evokes images of public lawlessness; reckless drivers, uncouth and unkempt conductors and roughneck ‘touts’. He says these images have made it easy to demonize the service providers in what is an industry that serves a critical public purpose. Second, the UMU is seeking to secure public and official recognition for service providers in the sector as a collection of earnest and hard-working investors and employers who are simply seeking a fair return for their investments and efforts.
Both tasks, Andrews admits, are difficult ones. Over time, the minibus culture has attracted such a high level of public opprobrium that its only real constituency comprises that group of young commuters who have bought in to what it has to offer. The relationship between those who serve in the sector and the more mature commuters persists mostly out of necessity;