San Francisco Labor Council Joins Taxi Drivers In Battle Against Uber, Ridesharing Apps
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— The San Francisco Labor Council (SFLC) is joining the fight against Uber and other similar car-ride services. Cab drivers want legislation to regulate rates, license and tax the on-demand transportation companies.
It's been an uphill battle for cabbies trying to gain traction in their effort to make companies like Lyft and Sidecar follow the same rules of the road and the California Public Utilities Commission has been slow to regulate while city officials maintain they don't have the proper jurisdiction over the issue.
Tim Paulson, head of the SFLC, said this is "unacceptable".
"Just like any other corporation, they are out for money. They don't care about the workers. They don't care about the public in general. They care about profits," he said.
Attorney Christopher Dolan, who represents the family of Sofia Liu— the child hit and killed by an Uber driver over a year ago, said local government can regulate rates, license and tax Uber-type vehicles and companies.
Dolan has sided with the SFLC and has written up a legal document presented by cab drivers to the city's transportation commission.
"Not only are they failing to protect us from exorbitant prices, these folks aren't paying anything to do business on our streets," he said. Dolan continued that it's up to City Hall and the Board of Supervisors to have the "courage and political dedication to its citizens" to enforce some type of regulation.
The taxi union document recommends several regulations. Paulson vowed it's the "beginning of a major fight" for a level playing field, whether the fight is in San Francisco or if they need to take it to Sacramento.
The president of the city's transportation commission acknowledged receipt of the document and has promised to take it under advisement after serious study.