News

With Chicago Taxi Industry on Verge of Collapse, AFSCME Offers Solutions

CHICAGO – To highlight the growing foreclosure crisis facing Chicago’s 2,000 small business owners who own and operate taxis, Cab Drivers United/

Cab Drivers United/AFSCME Local 2500 Statement On Access Living Lawsuit

Following news that Access Living, a Chicago-based, nationally recognized advocacy organization for people with disabilities – filed a claim in federal court against Uber, for violations of the Ame

Chicago Cab Drivers Promote Safety Amid Rising Violence

Following the second tragic murder of a Chicago cab driver in a month, Cab Drivers United/AFSCME Council 31 hosted an informational safety training for area cab drivers to help them avoid attacks.

“While millions of Chicago residents and visitors rely on safe and professional taxi services that cab drivers like myself provide, too often we are targets for violent crime,” said Cheryl Miller, a veteran Chicago cab driver and Cab Drivers United/AFSCME Council 31 member.

Taxi Driver Fairness Ordinance of 2014 Is Boosting Driver Income

Cab Drivers United/AFSCME Council 31 Raise Funds For Family Of Murdered Cab Driver, Promote Driver Safety Reforms

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), cab drivers are over 20 times more likely to be murdered on the job than other workers.

That statistic became a reality in Chicago on January 8th, when Chicago cab driver Chinedu Madu was shot and killed after picking up one last fare on his way home to his wife and 5 year old son.

Panel to recommend reforming taxi regulations, strengthening fairness and due process for drivers

In November 2014 a panel of community, religious and academic leaders from Chicago convened a Taxi Drivers’ Workers Rights Board Hearing to hear from taxi drivers about their treatment by the City agencies that establish and enforce the rules that govern their profession.  Dozens of drivers provided testimony, both written and oral.  The panel, chaired by University of Illinois Professor Robert Bruno, found that the system that the city has established to impose tickets, fines and licensure threats on drivers is at the root of escalating collective worker anger and in need of systemic refor

Victory At City Hall!

Less than six months after Chicago taxi drivers first came together with AFSCME to form our own organization, the City Council of Chicago passed a far-reaching reform package that will provide immediate economic relief to every Chicago cab driver. 

Chicago’s Cab Drivers Get Hearing in Community

In just five months of organizing, more than 3,500 Chicago cab drivers signed up with Cab Drivers United/AFSCME Council 31, coming together to change the system that denies them a decent living and the due process and respect they deserve.

And now the Chicago community is taking notice. Speaking to community leaders and labor and legal experts, Cheryl Miller, a cab driver with 20 years behind the wheel, described an unjust system seemingly set up to squeeze every last dollar out of cab drivers.

The Next Steps

Cab Drivers United/AFSCME Council 31 is on the move and winning real improvements!

As a result of our work, the City has agreed to the following reforms:

Here are the proposed changes:

Cab Drivers United - AFSCME to BACP: Take Action Now!

There’s a lot that needs fixing in Chicago’s cab industry – but there are some things BACP can do now. At the Thursday, July 31 BACP taxi town hall meeting we told Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek she has the authority to take actions now that would lower lease rates, reduce credit card fees and clean up rules, fines and enforcement.