I get your point. It isn't the drivers association's fault.
I'm not taking a swing at you, just pointing out it wasn't the drivers fault.
http://austintaxidriver.org/
http://austintaxidriver.org/2014/06/uber-and-the-failing-taxi-system/
Uber and the Failing Taxi System
06/13/2014
Maurice Jourdane
Huffington Post
During the past few days, the world has seen taxi drivers demonstrate against Uber, an online service that links passengers with private car owners rather than traditional taxi companies. Through Uber, with a smartphone a passenger can contact the nearest available vehicle in the area, obtain a ride and pay by phone. Licensed cab drivers say Uber’s smartphone app is pushing them out of business. If they are to confront Uber, cities must decide whether to preserve their traditional taxi systems.
In San Diego, like Los Angeles and most cities in the United States, taxi drivers do not own the vehicles they drive; almost all lease a cab from the holder of the medallion, the city permit to operate a taxi. Driving a cab is dangerous and very low paying work. A recent survey conducted by San Diego State University Center for Policy Initiatives found that taxi drivers in San Diego toil under nearly serf-like conditions where workers are obliged to perform dangerous work for long hours with low pay under an ever-present threat of being blackballed should they dare to complain. Because cab drivers are mostly immigrants who cannot find other work, they put up with the unsafe conditions, long hours and low pay.
Drivers fear retaliation if they report any dangerous or unfair practice. While dangerous and unfair practices could be monitored and sanctioned by a regulatory agency, the practices happen daily without any government awareness because drivers fear job loss if they report the practices; they choose to remain silent when taxi owners cut corners fearing blacklisting or increased weekly lease rates. San Diego taxi driver Mikaiil Haji Hussein raised concern over vehicle safety and the fairness of leasing practices. He was fired and blacklisted from the taxi industry after voicing these concerns in a City Council meeting.
FULL story at link.
= new reply since forum marked as read