Teamster taxi drivers get Washington's attention on unfair regulations

Hundreds of Teamster-represented taxi drivers caravaned through the streets of Washington, D.C., today to demand an end to illegal ride services.

According to Teamsters' news release,

The services, such as UberX and Lyft, are operating illegally in the city and are stealing work from D.C. taxi drivers. Last year, the city gave the services an extension to operate until regulations were in place. 

The extension ended several months ago but the city failed to enact fair regulations, giving the private sedan services a big competitive edge. There’s a risk to the public as well. For example, drivers for the private sedan services are not required to undergo thorough background checks. 

“Virginia ordered a cease and desist order on these companies and the District of Columbia needs to do the same,” said Irfan Jamali, a D.C. taxi driver for the past 24 years. “We are tired of seeing our livelihoods harmed because of the city’s inaction. We demand fairness now!”

Taxi drivers have to pay 25 cents to the D.C. Taxi Commission for every ride, while Uber X and Lyft do  not. They have to pay $125 every year for a picture ID, they're required to be fingerprinted, they have to have FBI background checks and they have to have commercial license plates. The unregulated ride-sharing drivers don't have to do any of those things.

Taxi drivers around the world are protesting the unregulated ride services that are eating into their livelihoods. That doesn't mean they're against the drivers. Teamsters are trying to organize Uber and Lyft drivers in California and Seattle.

The Hill reported on today's protest:

The union’s protest involves a slow-moving taxi caravan that began Wednesday morning at Washington’s East Potomac Park. The drivers are planning to proceed to the U.S. Capitol and end at Freedom Plaza, which is located near the City Hall building in downtown Washington.  

Union President Ferline Buie said her members are making the case that the rules governing online cab services were unfair to traditional drivers.  

“The D.C. drivers have seen the protests across the United States and around the world, and today it is their turn to join the growing chorus calling for these services to follow the same rules and regulations that they must follow,” Buie said. “All they want is a level playing field.”

Today's Teamster Caravan on Pennsylvania Ave.

Today's Teamster News 04.17.12

Teamsters: Colombia Has Not Complied With Action Plan on Labor Rights  IBT   ...The Teamsters Union expressed its opposition to the announcement that Colombia has met key requirements of the Action Plan on Labor Rights that allow the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement to be implemented beginning May 15...
Taxpayers would Pay $426 to Make Up for Tax Haven Abuse, Small Businesses $2,116  USPIRG   ...the average tax filer in 2011 would have to pay $426 to make up for revenue lost from corporations and wealthy individuals shifting income to offshore tax havens...
Teamsters Local 507 Continues to Fight, Red Cross Showing Its True Colors  Examiner   ...The workers that once had pride in working for the Red Cross are now wondering how such a humanitarian organization can care so little about its employees and donors. In Cleveland, there have been no negotiations scheduled since the strike began...
Protesters Arrested in Sleep-Out and Demonstration Near Stock Exchange  New York Stock Exchange   ...The police arrested four people near the New York Stock Exchange on Monday morning after telling Occupy Wall Street protesters, who have been gathering there for a week, that they were not permitted to sit or lie down on sidewalks...
Two Federal Judges Suggest All Labor, Business and Wall Street Regulation Is Unconstitutional  ThinkProgress   ...“tentherism,”  (is) a radical misreading of the Constitution which claims that pretty much everything the federal government does is unconstitutional. Tenther lawmakers — who include members of Congress, senators, governors and at least one sitting Supreme Court justice — have claimed that child labor laws, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, clean air laws and the federal highway system all violate the Constitution...
LA area Port Traffic increases in March, Exports hit new record  Calculated Risk  ...For the month of March, loaded outbound traffic was up 2.6% compared to March 2011, and loaded inbound traffic was up 12.8% compared to March 2011...

Links 07/12/10

White House Plans to Revisit Business Rules Wall Street Journal
Fiat Asks Union to Fall Into Line Wall Street Journal
Tremble, Banks, Tremble The New Republic
Illegal Workers Swept From Jobs in ‘Silent Raids’ New York Times
It's always the economy, stupid Washington Post

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