Taxi drivers, represented by the Teamster-affiliated Washington, D.C. Taxi Operators Association, held a protest today outside Union Station in Washington, D.C. to send a strong message to the City Council that drivers demand fairness now.

The drivers say a bill being considered by the Council does not address their concerns about fairness involving private-sedan companies such as UberX, Lyft and Sidecar. The bill would create a two-tiered system and continue to give the private-sedan services a huge competitive edge.

Drivers are urging changes to the bill so that it would create a level playing field between the private-sedan services and taxis. The illegally operating private-sedan services are stealing the taxi drivers’ work and many drivers are struggling to make ends meet.

“I am here today to tell the Council that we have the backing of the Teamsters and we vote,” said Massood Medgaalcci, a taxi driver, who was holding a sign that read, “I am a Teamster and I vote.”

 

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