New York City taxi drivers threaten to strike... again

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is at it again! According to reports, the group that was responsible for the September 5th walkout of cab drivers in New York City is once again planning to call for a strike, slated for October 22nd, and this time around, the striking taxi drivers say they will "get in the face" of cabbies who choose to work. If you'll recall, the initial strike was over the installation of GPS units which would monitor pickup and drop-off points of the drivers (as well as provide credit card services, entertainment, and news for passengers), but the Alliance seems to be changing its tune. The group is now lobbying for city-funded health care, a pension fund, and official recognition as a union. "They have pushed us further and further up against the wall so that it's not just about the technology and economics," Executive Director Bhairavi Desai said. "It's about something even greater." Meanwhile, NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg seemed undisturbed by the news, saying that the city is ready. Coming soon: Taxi Strike, a movie of the week.

[Ronald McD @ Oct 4th 2007 4:35PM]

Good thing I check Engadget for the latest news in labor disputes. Oh wait...

[james @ Oct 4th 2007 4:35PM]

I guess people will just have to take the train..

[Drakin @ Oct 4th 2007 5:21PM]

Better than more Apple news.

[West Hubbard @ Oct 4th 2007 5:43PM]

1) what is wrong in tracking the cab drivers...that is unless they are doing something illegal.

2) Living in the city it would make many women, and people afraid of being ripped off fell much safer with the GPS.

3) I'm pretty sure the GPS units were meant to be installed as part of a deal the city made with the union the last time they striked. The city would make wages higher...the cabbies would put in GPS. So the fact that they are striking over this is insane. The city kept there side of the deal, but guess who didn't keep theirs...

[John @ Oct 4th 2007 8:13PM]

Well, the last time they threatened to strike it was over the installation of GPS units ('gadgets') in their cars. So, I guess there's some merit.

[Drakin @ Oct 4th 2007 5:22PM]

Sorry I meant to reply to Ronald McD

[unreal mccoy @ Oct 4th 2007 4:38PM]

This is relevant how?

[Dias @ Oct 4th 2007 4:38PM]

Just replace Michael Bloomberg with Schwarzy, he'll do all job.

[Satish @ Oct 4th 2007 4:41PM]

Was that a pic from NY?? looks like it's a pic from Bombay, India ;-)

[blade417 @ Oct 4th 2007 4:43PM]

I think that was outside of one of microsofts call centers..... :o

[Twitchy @ Oct 4th 2007 5:04PM]

Except for the token white guy.

[Cagrino @ Oct 4th 2007 5:16PM]

That would be Mumbai.

Kind of like George W.'s Burma is now Myanmar. :o)

[danday @ Oct 4th 2007 5:40PM]

Microsoft in Redmond almost looks like it too

[MARSHAK @ Oct 4th 2007 8:54PM]

new york license plate for the win.

[blade417 @ Oct 4th 2007 4:42PM]

*yawn* I can't find my contact case, has anyone seen it. (I knew I should've attached it to that damn gps thingy)

[SikBug @ Oct 4th 2007 4:44PM]

I gotta tell you it was pretty much unnoticeable last time they went on strike. I asked a guy the other day that had it and he didn't seem to care at all. It's fun to play with when your drunk riding home at night.

[Grant @ Oct 4th 2007 4:48PM]

"It's about something even greater."....

"and when we figure out what this greater cause for strike is, we will be the first to let you know!"

[Stephen Yuan @ Oct 4th 2007 4:54PM]

What they were saying about "it's not about....It's about something greater" reminds me of British General's conclusion about all the riots and stuff happening colonies-wide BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION!

[Grant @ Oct 4th 2007 4:58PM]

one fortnight from tonight, the cabbies take the city!!!

[Josh L @ Oct 4th 2007 9:40PM]

@ Stephan:
Two if by train, one if by cab?

[charonzen @ Oct 4th 2007 10:47PM]

The yellow cabs are coming! The yellow cabs are coming!

[Chris @ Oct 4th 2007 4:48PM]

Noted in my calendar... October 22, NYC will smell a little less like body odor and Fresh Pine.

[Jon @ Oct 4th 2007 4:53PM]

What has anything of this got to do with gadgets. Why not cover the postal workers strikes in the UK? At least there part of the reasons why they are striking is because they are resisting modernisation. And some new gadgets ordered online won't be arriving due ti the strike.

[Mike_NYC @ Oct 4th 2007 4:59PM]

New York is the center of the universe, and the sooner the rest of the world realizes that, the better.

Ouch ... eeek ... aarrgh STOP THROWING STUFF AT ME! I'm just kidding, sort of ...

[Simon @ Oct 4th 2007 5:04PM]

The strikers are protesting having GPS installed in their taxis. This will render them unable to rip off tourists so it they are striking.

[Patrick @ Oct 4th 2007 5:06PM]

New Yorkers prepare to not care...again

[dunnypop @ Oct 4th 2007 5:08PM]

I don't know what their complaint is... they earn atleast $80k to $100+k a year!

[Todd @ Oct 4th 2007 5:12PM]

Deploy the taxis from Total Recall immediately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZs4QwZ2R8

[Peter Hansen @ Oct 4th 2007 5:13PM]

As a New Yorker, I say let 'em strike. I won't miss them. First, rarely, if ever, does one get a ride in a cab where the driver isn't more involved in a cell phone conversation than with getting you to your destination. This, by the way is a violation of the rules.

Second, the last fare increase was the last straw for me. The base mileage rate wasn't raised, but the rate for slow/stopped traffic went up signifigantly. The all-too-predictable result was a serious lessening of any sense of urgency on the part of the driver. After all, why should he seek out the route without traffic when having you captive with the meter clicking away is so much easier than looking for other fares.

[Alexander @ Oct 4th 2007 5:17PM]

Cabbies can't strike... just think of all the accidents that WON'T happen! Hospitals will be empty! People will get to work on time, because they didn't run into a cab driver going from Central Park to JFK in 15Min!

Think of the children... who will be able to get to school, because they weren't run off the road by a cab driver!

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 4th 2007 5:18PM]

booohooo no more lollygagging for the taxi drivers. if i'm forced to used the internet with work filters, these drivers should have the gps units installed in their cabs! it's WORK deal with it sucka!

[John M @ Oct 4th 2007 5:23PM]

Well im glad I live in a more rural area where this isnt a mass transit issue...seems kinda crazy doesnt it?

[sam @ Oct 4th 2007 5:39PM]

What will this mean for the Cash Cab? Oh Noes!

[Tom @ Oct 4th 2007 5:59PM]

The new systems the city wants them to install are awesome. You can check the weather, news, etc. And paying by credit card is soooo easy.

Its so easy to screw the cabbie out of a tip though, which is probably why they hate it so much. I mean, you can always not tip the cabbie. But it is harder for them to give you shit for it with the machine.

and lol at "get in the face" of other cabbies. What morons.

[Kaemon @ Oct 4th 2007 6:30PM]

These people don't need to strike at all, they're perfectly fine the way they are. If the hate GPS they just need to learn to deal with it, I mean, every job has restrictions.

This is why Unions are obsolete now.

Bah.

[jroc @ Oct 5th 2007 1:41AM]

Hey guys how about we just all get RFID chips in us and have the freaking government monitor everything. Who needs gps when we can have full Radio Frequency government tracking 24/7?

[Charlie @ Oct 5th 2007 11:58AM]

Why is this a big deal? Buy a car/bike/segway/spaceship/running shoes and put them to good use.

[Marthy @ Oct 7th 2007 7:18PM]

Good, cab drivers are assholes anyway, the less of them there are, the better.

[A H @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:00PM]

Anyone want to bet that the biggest complaint for the taxi drivers is that the new passenger accessible GPS makes it harder for the drivers to rip people, especially tourists, off by taking them on the scenic route? ;)