As we told you in
March, the technology-bucking drivers of New York City have put their collective foot down and said "no" to GPS systems in city taxis. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a non-unionized group with more than 8,400 members, claims it will call for its drivers to strike if city leaders don't retract plans to install GPS units in 13,000 cabs. No new information
there, but recently the NYTWA announced that September would be its target month for the walkouts, putting a very real timetable on what would be a crippling move for the city.
If you'll recall, the touchscreen devices would allow passengers to pay by credit card, check the news, and map their taxi's location. The systems would also track pickup and drop-off points (information taxi drivers already report), but cabbies fear their employers will use the information to
keep tabs on their whereabouts. The NYTWA plans to specify the date and length of the strike next month, so you'll know more when we do.
posted July 26th 2007 2:30PM
So, this has now piqued my curiosity. Why would a cabbie have a problem with their companies knowing where they are? Wouldn't that actually be a good thing to help streamline the process?
SG
Maybe the system will come with air fresheners...
I'll ride that white chick like a taxi and I'll remember to tip to boot!
Let them strike. I'm sure there's 8,400 people in New York looking for jobs. I'll respond to a few points made in comments I read.
Keeping tabs on the cabbies: Who cares if your boss knows you're driving a passenger to the local hot dog shop? What would you be doing within the acceptable boundaries of your job that you would mind your boss knowing about? Plenty of other companies have systems to know where their employees go. It's simply a way to keep employees as productive as possible.
Providing passengers with location and route information: Sure, maybe the shortest route isn't always the fastest, but some people would prefer a better price over a faster trip and for some it may be the opposite. The driver could simply ask if they wanted the fastest route or the cheapest route as suggested by the system, knowing that if they choose the fastest route it may cost a little more. That seems completely reasonable.
Information: Sure information given to passengers may be padded with advertisements, but what isn't these days? We as consumers have found ways to ingnore random ads and gleen the content we want from what's actually presented to us. You may learn something you had no idea about whether you're a tourist or if you've lived there your whole life.
GPS not providing turn by turn: If you're a cab driver pretty much anywhere you'd better not ever need directions from a GPS unit to get where you're going in the city.
I don't see this system being anything but a convenience for passengers and the drivers going on strike because their company wants to provide their customers with better service is ridiculous.
I can't be bothered to look this particular one up, but many so-called non-unions are actually... unions. A few differences, but same idea.
I'm going to go a bit off topic here. Personally, I'm with those that hate unions. Certainly there are some honest hard-working people in unions. But there are far too many lazy and unscrupulous bums that are virtually untouchable because they're protected by their union. And the propaganda they spew to get what they want... ugh...
Consider some of the poor products and services we get out of unionized industries/companies. And they want raises? Unions are good for "the little guy," indiscriminate of his/her individual work ethic and skills. Make no mistake; unions are terrible for economic development.
True on most unions. The one I'm in is a writer's union at a TV staiton. Our union isn't strong, and they're basically taking advantage of that by giving us the work of other unions... while those lazy scums do nothing. So for the most part, I'm with you on the hating the union part. If I'm gonna get screwed over, why am I paying dues?
As for one of those other unions at our station... they raised bloody hell when the suggestion that GPS units be installed in our live trucks. These morons who are supposed to be engineers and understand technology thought the station wanted them to track their movements (because these truck guys are KNOWN to take the trucks on personal errands)... The units the stations wanted to install were off the shelf Garmins... ONLY because it was taking a while to figure out the exact live shot locations. Station wanted it so these guys would have an easier time of getting to shoots. But these idiots thought they were gonna be tracked... by something that can't transmit. Idiots.
newsguy, that's exactly it! The workers that are actually skilled, honest and hard working get held back by the idiots. I'm all for giving power to the people and protecting their rights. But come on... people need to be accountable for their own actions or else why would they care?
The story about the truck drivers is hilarious. I'm sure these jokers are deserving of a raise. :P
I'm going to counter-strike, by organizing an effort to not ride in any of the NYC cabs that aren't equipped with card readers & GPS units.
The majority of the population of the state of Texas will be participating with me.
Also, most of us won't be riding in cabs WITH the units. But that's more a function of location than protest.
F' those cabbies! I'm sure there are plenty of out of work people that would drive a cab with a gps.
SO hire new "american" cab drivers.
in LA I have been in several cabs that have GPS so what is the big deal...unless if course they want to continue screwing over tourists. I say install them! Their arguments sound very hallow.
And in other corners of the world (Quebec) cabbies have been fighting to get GPS in their taxis for years:
http://www.thegpsinsider.com/2007/07/25/quebec-gives-green-light-to-gps-navigation-units/
The cabbies won't like the agencies tracking them as they drive by and not pick up blacks or latinos in town to rush to the lil ol white ladies who live on the Upper East Side.
Um, the article says that it tracks pickup and dropoff points, not how the Taxi got there.
Seriously, I think this whole argument has come about because people don’t understand the technology, i.e. People don’t realise that GPS systems RECEIVE information, they don’t send it.
I can imagine that if the route the taxi driver took to get from point a to point b was transmitted back (obviously using existing transmission tech) as well as the pickup and dropoff points, the amount of information could overwhelm the current system, that and you’d need someone checking all the routes to find dodgy cabbies and then they could be taking longer routes for legit reasons (traffic jams, closed roads, etc) so the amount of man hours you’d have to put in would be huge.
I've already been in a cab with one of these screens.
Why can't this system only be on when the cabbie starts the meter? That will make the tracking of cabbie when they're not working a non-issue.
Why don't they let customers decide if they want to ride in a cab with GPS. The cabs with this feature will have some distinguishing characteristics, like a special sticker or marking. Kinda like how the light on the hood of the car lets people know if it's in service or not.
This reminds me of something I read years ago.
"Say, Jim,” said the friend of the taxi-cab driver, standing in front of the vehicle, “there’s a purse lying on the floor of your car.”
The cab driver looked carefully around and then whispered: “Sometimes when business is bad I put it there and leave the door open. It’s empty, but you have no idea how many people will jump in for a short drive when they see it.”
That's funny... smart business too... As for the rest of the conversation, I agree that the cabbies shouldn't have to pay for the system, but I also feel that that should be the base for their complaints. Complaining about being tracked is just an excuse. In the end I support the GPS systems 100%. Being someone who frequents other countries (I'm currently posting from Prague, in the Czech Replublic) I'm constantly being taken advantage of because I don't know the country I'm in and a cabby can easily take the long route with me, and they often do...(especially in Prague) Having a GPS would easily allow me to see what is really happening. So I say Mr "non" union folks, base your strike off the price and have the city foot the bill - but one way or another GPS is coming, get used to it.
I could never grasp how anyone would want that job to begin with. People always suspecting your scamming them, pushy assholes who dont tip yet expect limo style service, criminals looking to stick a gun to your head etc. Much like the job of a convenience store clerk, the negatives far outweigh the ridiculously low wages/pay that is offered. Its no wonder that 90% of the people who take the job have come from even worse situations in their own countries so they can deal with it.
I'm astonished by some of the comments here ... just seeing the degree of ignorance, and insensitivity, regarding the livelihoods of NYC taxi drivers.
First of all, drivers take home a pretty meager share of the fare - 30 to 40% - once they're done paying leasing fees (yes, most drivers lease their cars), gas, tolls, etc. Second, they don't have health benefits or paid vacation! Finally, being a taxi driver is actually one of the most dangerous professions in America, and several NYC cabbies are currently in comas having been assaulted in misguided acts of xenophobia and/or racism.
GPS isn't the end-all-be-all issue of the NYTWA's work - it's just sort of the straw that broke the camel's back, and it's where they're drawing the line right now. It's insulting, it's threatening to their livelihood, and it's being implemented despite a press conference and an advance strike warning from the drivers - in other words, they told the city this was wrong, they've offered compromises, but the city is just not willing to negotiate.
It's important for New Yorkers to recognize that cabbies are part of what makes this city function, and they deserve respect and some show of support from the rest of us. The generalizations people are making in this comments thread about dishonest, reckless drivers extorting money from tourists is just insulting.