Union-backed taxi service starts in Newark, amid regulatory debate about Uber

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NJ.com

By Naomi Nix

NEWARK — As state legislators are mulling proposed legislation to stiffen the regulations for ride sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, a new union-backed taxi service has started in Newark.

The Transunion Car Service cut the ribbon today on its new nonprofit taxi service in Newark.

"The drivers of these companies are actually the owners," said Lionel Leach, president of CWA Local 1039, which organized the service.

Through the nonprofit organization the drivers will be part of an employee stock ownership plan. They will also have healthcare, retirement benefits and free legal representation, according to Leach.

FULL story at link.




Read more: http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/03/union-backed_taxi_service_starts_in_newark_amid_re.html

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TRANSUNION CAR SERVICE: http://www.ridetcs.com/

http://www.ridetcs.com/images/tcs-logo-black-circle%20svg.svg

[KamaAina]

1. I like very much!

SF and other cities where Lyft and Uber are killing the taxi industry should follow suit.

[FrodosPet]

5. SF cabdrivers vote to unionize as industry continues to take beating from ride services

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-cabdrivers-vote-to-unionize-as-industry-continues-to-take-beating-from-ride-services/Content?oid=2874896

August 15, 2014

an Francisco cabdrivers have decided that it's time to form a union.

The local industry has been reeling for years as venture capital-backed ride services like Uber and Lyft have proliferated and taxi companies' calls to The City to level the playing field have done little to help.

On Wednesday, cab drivers voted to initiate the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance, an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) -- marking the first time cabdrivers will be unionized in The City in more than four decades.

~ snip ~

Becoming unionized would also give taxi drivers access to legal resources. Taxi drivers are independent contractors with cab companies, who provide workers' compensation but not health insurance. Powder said getting health insurance from cab companies is not a priority at the moment considering other battles they face.

~ snip ~

[appalachiablue]

2. Excellent. Glad to know they'll have benefits & representation. Appreciate this good news.

[drm604]

3. Good.

I've been bothered by the number of progressives who love Uber. It's a company that bypasses labor laws by using contractors. They don't even have to invest in vehicles because they use the contractors' vehicles.

I love the idea of non-profit union owned and run companies.

[freshwest]

6. I don't like Uber, either. The last showdown they had attacking licensing was full of teabaggers.

They wanted to do things any way they wanted without the rules a person calling for a cab expects to be enforced. After all, the rider is entrusting their safety and their health to these drivers. Fly by nights are get the money and run operations. No responsibility. Progressives support unions, they are what builds the middle class and keep society moving. Don't know one who doesn't, and I hope there aren't any around her thoughtless enough to be against unions.

[drm604]

7. I don't think I've seen anyone who thinks that way on DU.

But I've heard friends, good Democrats, talk about how much they love Uber.

Uber has great marketing, almost making it sound like it's a lefty idea. A blow against the establishment, striking out against the man. Why, they're almost hippies!

[brooklynite]

8. NYC taxi drivers have always been contractors

They rent the cab for the shift and earn what they can. Hasn't been an employed taxi driver in decades.

[drm604]

13. And that's not a good thing. That doesn't mean Uber is any better.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Great that Uber is spurring this kind of innovation and competition.

Cabs have been cosy cartels for too long. It's great that the days of being treated rudely by a curt dispatcher, then waiting around for half an hour wondering what happened to "ten minutes", are over.

[Cal Carpenter]

9. Odd that you credit Uber with 'spurring' this

Considering it is a worker-oriented, unionized endeavor that follows regulations with licensed and properly insured driver/owners, it is NOTHING like Uber.

[PoliticAverse]

10. Did you read the article? "I thank Uber for what they did. They just pushed the technology along".

said Lionel Leach, president of CWA Local 1039, which organized the service.

[Cal Carpenter]

12. Sure, in terms of the app

The poster to whom I was replying has posted about Uber and Lyft many times before and appears to be a big fan of the unregulated, unlicensed, and under-insured aspects of those companies. So I was looking at it in terms of more than just the app itself. The rest of the paragraph from which you quote provides necessary context.


Imho, the most exciting part about this new business is that it is worker-owned, nonprofit, and union. This is basically the opposite of the Uber/Lyft model, and was the reason I replied above to that particular person.

[PoliticAverse]

11. Article would have benefitted from a comparison of the charges of this service and Uber. n/t