Cabbies And Muni Drivers United On Labor Conditions
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— A collective of Muni operators and San Francisco cab drivers met Sunday night to discuss the possibility of calling a one-day strike over the safety standards of their working conditions.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
The two key groups that help people to get around San Francisco talked for the first time to form a united labor front and is upset with San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency.
Dean Clark with San Francisco Taxi Advocates said they've yet to choose a specific date for the strike.
"We need to make sure that the public understands and the city understands we are serious about our working conditions and we're serious about what the SFMTA is doing to us," said Clark.
Clark said cabbies are upset over a new 5 percent fee they have to pay every time a customer uses a credit card.
He also said the MTA doesn't do enough to require cab companies to look out for the safety of their drivers.
"What we're doing is to try and build some solidarity and organize the cab drivers so that we can move forward," he added.
Meanwhile, MUNI operators are working under a labor deal they rejected at the ballot box, but was imposed by an arbitrator.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)