Vol. 71/No. 35      September 24, 2007

“With the GPS, they will control everything over the drivers,” he said. “What the city government proposes is not good for drivers—it’s just good for the big shots.”

New York cab drivers struck for two days to demand the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) drop its regulations that all cabs have a Global Positioning System (GPS) installed and accept credit card fares by October 1.

The GPS enables the authorities to know the exact location of the cab at all times. Drivers say this is an invasion of privacy.

Drivers will lose 5 percent of their income for fares paid with credit cards, as they will have to cover the credit card fees.

“I think the use of the credit card issue should be voluntary with the driver,” said a striker who asked to remain anonymous. “If the card is no good, we will lose the whole fare.”

“The strike was effective in getting out our side. I will participate if there is another,” he said.

“It affects all drivers,” said striker Jean Desrosiers. “I was not glad to go on strike because we lose money. You could see the strike was 90 percent effective.”

Strikers rallied near Pennsylvania Station September 6. They chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, GPS has got to go!” and yelled “Shame!” at those drivers who were working when they stopped to pick up customers.

“We are ready to continue with our mobilization despite however the mayor’s office and the TLC want to spin the story,” said Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which organized the strike. “The reality is that we have been heard.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the strike was having no impact and the TLC said more than 70 percent of the cabs were on the road.  
 
 
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