CHICAGO – Cab Drivers United/AFSCME Local 2500 released the following statement in response to an amendment passed today by the City Council’s Finance Committee:

“This amendment fails to level the playing field between professional Chicago cab drivers who work hard to provide for their families, and giant corporations like Uber that profit from providing the same service without following the same rules.

“It’s wrong to let big companies carve their own loopholes in laws that require licenses, training, background checks and other basic consumer protections, but that’s exactly what’s happening here. It’s dangerous, putting public safety at risk. It’s unjust, allowing hugely profitable corporations to pocket millions of dollars that should support city services. And by giving these corporations the same access to the airports and McCormick Place and allowing them to provide the same service without following the same rules, it will destroy the family-sustaining jobs of cab drivers.”