The main issues in the strike are the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) requirement that all cabs have Global Positioning Systems (GPS) installed by October 1 and forcing cab drivers to accept credit cards.

Drivers say the GPS enables the city government to spy on them and constitutes an invasion of privacy. The five percent charge with the use of a credit card will come out of the driver’s income.

“Today drivers are standing up for dignity,” said Bhairavi Desai, NYTWA executive director, pictured above speaking at a press conference this morning at the Transport Workers Union hall. “We are silent no more.”

Fetzum Tomovic, a driver for 5 years, told the Militant, “I drove 12 hours last night [before the strike began]. Then I went home to shower and I am here now willing to spend the next two days helping with the strike. We need a union to protect against the abuse of the TLC and the cops.”

—DAN FEIN