TWA PRESS CONFERENCE AT PENN STATION

This how New York 1 covered the Taxi Workers Alliance Press Conference


Oct 21, 2007 On NY1 Now: News All Eve Weather: Picture Perfect. High:76
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Taxi Drivers Set For Second Strike Over GPS Rules
October 21, 2007

It could be tougher to get a cab Monday as many taxi drivers are still threatening to keep their cabs parked.

The Taxi Workers Alliance, which says it represents between 8,000 and 9,000 drivers, is calling for a 24-hour strike to begin at 5 a.m. Monday.

It would be the second time in two months that drivers walked off the job to protest the city's rule that they install GPS technology and credit card machines. Drivers and organizers say the technology is a drain on their wallets and worthless to their customers.

"Despite thousands of objections over this nonsense technology, the city seems to be more invested in the technology then they are in the hard working men and women who make this industry run,” said Bhairavi Desai of the Taxi Workers Alliance.

"Most of the passengers get in and if they are not computer literate, they can’t find how to turn off the monitor, because they have designed it so that they don't want passengers to turn it off because it would defeat the whole purpose of their commercials,” said taxi driver John McDonagh. “So they can't turn it off, so they are spending time doing that, they are not giving me the directions. I can’t hear them because the noise of the commercial is so loud."

"Passengers don't need it, drivers don't need it, just the city and some money-making friends need it,” said taxi driver Kamran Nayab.

During the strike, cabs that are on duty will go to a "zone fare" system where they pick up more than one passenger.

Passengers will pay $10 apiece to start, plus $5 for each additional zone they drive through.