Contact: Donna Blythe-Shaw (USW), 617-640-4299; Dshaw@usw.org
BOSTON (May 21) – The Boston Taxi Drivers Association (BTDA), an affiliate of the United Steelworkers (USW) representing 1,400 cab drivers is calling on the Mayor of Boston and the Police Commissioner to order all Uber-X and Uber-XL for-hire transportation vehicles off the streets of Boston until the city can regulate and license all Uber drivers and cars.
The BTDA has announced a ‘Boston Rolling Taxi Rally & Protest’ at the Uber Boston Headquarters on Thursday, May 22 at: 186 South Street, 2:00 to 3:00 pm.
Protest Rally Scheduled Thursday at Uber Boston Headquarters for 2:00 pm
WHAT: Boston Rolling Taxi Rally & Protest
WHERE: Uber Boston Headquarters, 186 South Street
WHEN: Thursday, May 22, 2014; 2:00 to 3:00 pm
The BTDA says the Boston Police Department Hackney Unit has failed to protect both the public and the licensed taxi business from unregistered for-hire vehicles, even though the Police Commissioner has the clear authority to do so under rules for regulating the taxi industry.
According to the BPD Hackney Carriage Rules and Regulations: “From time to time, the Police Commissioner may amend these regulations in order to promote public well-being, convenience, safety and to respond to the changing needs of the industry.”
The BTDA declares: “The time to promote public safety and respond to the changing needs of the industry is now!”
All Boston cab drivers are vetted and licensed by the Boston Police Department. The fares are regulated and the vehicles inspected. Uber-X and Uber-XL contract with unlicensed, unregulated “black car” limousine drivers. The licensed cab drivers are protesting the BPD Hackney Unit has failed to protect the public from unregistered and unregulated for-hire vehicles and drivers.
The BTDA union drivers statement said: “Every day these unlicensed Uber-for hire vehicles and drivers operate on the streets of Boston, it puts at risk residents, tourists and business passengers, who assume that these drivers and vehicles are safe and the rates are fair.
“The unlicensed workforce of Uber has cut legitimate taxi business by 30 percent. Without a level playing field, Boston taxis will be driven out of existence, leaving the industry in a state of chaos and the public in danger.”
The USW is the largest private-sector union in North America, representing 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining and renewable energy products, chemicals, transportation, health care, security, hotels, and municipal governments.
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