UTWA

On Wednesday, August 3, the AFL-CIO granted a national charter for a Taxi Workers Alliance Organizing Committee to unionize drivers throughout the United States. It is the first time a new union has been chartered in the AFL-CIO in over fifty years.

On Tuesday, July 26, the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA), Disabled in Action and ADAPT/Liberty Resources, Inc. honored the 21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by rallying in protest of the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s failure to purchase wheelchair accessible taxis.  See a photo slideshow of the rally here.

Today is the 21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  On this day, disabled advocates, taxi drivers and other community members will rally for equal access to transportation in the City of Philadelphia. 

La Alianza de Taxistas Unidas se organizó una vigilia en el Miercoles, 7 de Julio para apoyar las trabajadores y sus familias quienes eran vicimizados por una redada reciente de parte de la Autoridad de Estacionamiento de Philadlephia y ICE. Estudiantes, trabajdores y la comunidad religiosa llogo para apoyar las taxitas y sus familias y denunciar este injusticia.

Este reportaje fue producido por La Television del Proyecto de Medios en Movimiento con traduccion y doblaje por Radio Tlacuache

Two weeks ago Philadelphia Parking Authority sent notices to approximately 100 taxi drivers, claiming that the drivers were owed money from past credit card transactions and should report to the PPA office on Wednesday, June 30th to receive their unclaimed check. As the drivers arrived at the Parking Authority, they were hand cuffed and arrested. In total, 27 drivers were arrested, 22 drivers were ultimately released and the whereabouts and identities of the other drivers is not known.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has passed a decision clearly stating the PPA has acted outside of it's regulatory authority. The ruling found that the PPA has been operating for years without following proper procedure in regards to setting rules for the taxi cab industry. The decision effectively voids regulation created by the PPA since it's establishment in 2004, calling the PPA's rules "void and unenforceable."

by Milena Velis and Todd Wolfson

Update: Ron Blunt was found not guilty

Despite having already been exonerated on assault charges, Ronald Blount, President of the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) will stand trial for a second time this week on the same allegations. Back in October of 2009, in municipal court, a jury exonerated him in less than one hour. But that resounding decision has not deterred the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) from retrying Mr Blount for the same crime in their administrative court, Thursday April 22nd. 

Taxi drivers and people living with disabilities have been working together for years to bring accessibility and basic health protections to the taxi industry, and a hearing on proposed legislation last Friday brought them one step closer.

On this show:

+Interviews with leaders of the Save the Libraries Coalition  

+A cab driver speaks about how the Philadelphia Parking Authority is mismanaging the taxi industry

+The Coalition of Immokolee Workers comes to Philadelphia to take on Aramark

+Immigrant worker's face the loss of driver licenses

+Music and other news

Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) went into action. We met with the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)’s Taxicab and Limousine Division (TLD) first, then with some of PPA’s Board. Stu Bykofsky wrote an article in the Daily News. We collected evidence from drivers experiences and GPS records.

The PPA’s response was: It doesn’t exist; Drivers are driving away when being ticketed; You are accusing us of being criminals; and your evidence is insignificant compared to the amount of drivers there are.