Proposal to endorse and support March 7 Taxi Drivers' action

[Mark]

"(Russian taxi cab mogul, Symon) Garber operated cabs in Moscow and New York when he befriended Mayor Daley's son Patrick nine years ago in Russia. In just a few years, Garber became the predominant force in Chicago's taxi business, an industry regulated by City Hall.

Garber and his business partners are facing the maximum fine -- $50,000 for each of 175 cases -- because they operated those salvaged cars for months, in some cases years, until City Hall discovered them in a crackdown last spring.

Garber has hired the law firm of mayoral candidate Gery Chico."

-Tim Novak and Art Golab, "Taxi cab king, Garber, facing millions in fines" Chicago Sun Times, November 29, 2010

Folks, the taxi drivers of Chicago are an egregiously exploited group of workers.
Forty some years ago they were unionized. They got a decent paycheck from a much more fair percentage of the fares they collected, they got some representation and bargained collectively against the cab companies and the city government and it was possible to make a reasonably good living driving a taxi cab.
Then, in the '80s, the cab companies and various governments - state, city and federal - colluded with one another to screw the cab drivers of their rights as workers and got them classed as "independent contractors" and thus took away their rights to join or form recognized unions. Since then the cab companies and the city government have been exploiting the taxi cab drivers at will.

The cab companies, often connected with city government - as in the case of Simon Garber - got much of whatever they wanted in Chicago. They got lease increases approved - which came out of the drivers' pockets when they weren't accompanied by comparable fare increases. They got regulating ordinances repealed and others, that convenienced them in some way, passed. Recently an ordinance that was touted as a "reform ordinance" that would take dangerous cab drivers off the streets was passed. In reality the ordinance removed any real provision for citing and fining the cab companies for violations committed with their cabs. It left in place fines against drivers, however, and, most egregiously, it took away the drivers' right to petition.

Earlier this year the city council granted the cab companies a lease rate increase which the drivers will have to pay but the drivers haven't had a pay increase in six years. Cab driver Ted Budzinsky then collected 1500 signatures from cab drivers in Chicago petitioning for a fare increase. The city council responded by stonewalling then declaring 430 of the signatures invalid ("Impossible!" says Budzynski, "They were all from working cab drivers!") then by tacking on to the new ordinance a clause outlawing petitioning by drivers.

The drivers work 12 hour days for less than the legal minimum wage. "Cabs are sweatshops on wheels" says driver Peter Enger. They are grossly overworked and underpaid. As independent contractors the drivers can't join unions so they go the community organizing route. The U.T.C.C. (the United Taxidrivers' Community Council) has been fighting valiantly but finding it difficult. They don't have a lot of clout and the politicians find it easy to ignore their concerns and instead jump in the corner of the cab companies. They also see cab drivers as a source of revenue heaping all sorts of taxes and unreasonable fines upon them.

What the cab drivers need most, therefore, is a base of support, first from the rest of the labor movement and then from the community in general. In this way Occupy Chicago can play a great role.

Thus I would like to propose that Occupy Chicago vote to endorse the March 7th U.T.C.C. action - in which the cab drivers and their supporters will rally and march and circle the block in their cabs outside City Hall while a delegation goes to the mayor's office on the 5th floor to deliver their demands for a fare increase and the right to petition - and give every possible support to it at Monday's (March 5th) Occupy Chicago General Assembly.

[BenBurton]

I hope to god you don't read this whole thing at a GA.

[Mark]

Not only that, Ben, but I want you to tweet it.

[Quincy]

I'm sure none of you care but I was involved in a horrific cab accident in 2005. The cabbie was at fault and ticketed for reckless driving and personal damage. I spent 5 days at NW hospital. The cabbie could have cared less what happened to me. He acted like he did not speak English and would not communicate to me, my husband, the police or medics. I didn't sue, my insurance company paid for most of my hospital stay which cost $87,000. I have a permament scare above my left eye, constant pain on my left side and walk with a slight limp. I have no sympathy for these cabbies.

[Mark]

I have many cab drivers as close friends and they are the finest, most hard working and honest family men and women you will ever want to meet and, yes, many are immigrant. I really don't understand your logic, Quincy. If I met one scoundrel named Quincy I wouldn't turn against you and everyone else so named.

[Mark]

I have many cab drivers as close friends and they are the finest, most hard working and honest family men and women you will ever want to meet and, yes, many are immigrant.
I really don't understand your logic, Quincy. If I met one scoundrel named Quincy I wouldn't turn against you and everyone else so named.

[Mark]

Sorry about the repetition but the way this web site logs you out every time you try to post you don't know if you posted or not and keep trying.

[BenBurton]

Not only that, Ben, but I want you to tweet it.

The cabbies are getting fucked. Sorry you got fucked by one Quincy but they need support.

[Quincy]

Thanks for your non sympathy. I was a high school student at the time. My parents and me made up the difference that our insurance company wouldn't cover. I actually supported your cause for a while. You won't remember me but I dropped off some blankets,and McDonalds vouchers in October at LaSalle and Jackson. So go ahead support the cabbies, one of them damaged me for life and is no where to be found now. Good luck w/ your DePaul occupy which is an effin joke as well as the prisoners you support. Your little cause has imploded, and I for one, is quite happy about it. While Sugar (whatever he/she large piece of crap) and the rest of you lowlifes prepare for G8/NATO, I am 700 miles away at grad school, paying for it while I work two jobs. Say hi to Ruben, Mark and the rest that have left your slow death movement.

[BenBurton]

1) I did say sorry because I am.
2) You are completely correct that the movement has been imploding. I'm on these forums trying to help that.

Earlier today I started a thread in the General Discussion area. I'd love to see your opinion over there.