Video of press conference from August 26, 2010. Click here for NYTWA's YouTube channel.
On behalf of the Sharif family, we would like to express our gratitude for the heart-warming support from our fellow New Yorkers and to our neighbors across the country. Many of you have generously sent in donations to the family through NYTWA. We thank you for this kindness and ask for further support.
Please write in the memo, "Ahmed Sharif Family."
Checks and money orders can be made payable to, "Ahmed Sharif" Mail to: Ahmed Sharif c/o New York Taxi Workers Alliance 250 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310 NY, NY 10001
We will deliver the monies immediately to the family as they come in and send you a receipt signed by Ahmed for acknowledgment. Thank you.
No More Ahmed Sharifs! Support Taxi Workers Struggle for Protection! Join Ahmed and the countless other driver victims of violence on the job and call for the state to enact the Taxi Driver Protection Act! The bill was passed with overwhelming support in the NYS Assembly and Senate, and is now awaiting the signature of the Governor. Call on Speaker Silver to send the bill to the Governor's desk for signing and call on the Governor to sign NOW!
Build Justice & Rights for Taxi Workers! Support the Work of NYTWA! NYTWA is a membership-based not-for-profit organization. Our funds are derived from membership, private foundation support and individual supporters. To make a donation, please click here.
Please note "For NYTWA" in the memo. Or, send a check made payable to "NYTWA." Thank you.
Taxi Driver Brutally Attacked in Anti-Muslim Hate Crime
PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2010 1:00PM City Hall Steps
Ahmed H. Sharif, 43, a yellow taxi cab driver slashed across the neck, face and shoulders by a passenger during an anti-Muslim hate crime will stand with fellow New York Taxi Workers Alliance members, and community, immigrant and Muslim organizations to call for an end to the bigotry and anti-Islamic rhetoric in the debate around the Park 51 Islamic Cultural Center, referred to as the Ground Zero Mosque. “I feel very sad. I have been here more than 25 years. I have been driving a taxi more than 15 years. All my four kids were born here. I never feel this hopeless and insecure before,” said Mr. Sharif. “Right now, the public sentiment is very serious (because of the Ground Zero Mosque debate.) All drivers should be more careful.”
On Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 Mr. Sharif picked up the perpetrator at 24th Street and Second Avenue, his first fare for the shift, and headed toward Times Square. The man, 21, started out friendly, asking Mr. Sharif about where he was from, how long he had been in America, if he was Muslim and if he was observing fast during Ramadan. He then first became silent for a few minutes and then suddenly started cursing and screaming. There, at about 6:15pm at Third Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets, he yelled, “Assalamu Alaikum. Consider this a checkpoint,” and then slashed Mr. Sharif across the neck. As Mr. Sharif went to knock the knife out, the perpetrator, continuing to scream loudly, cut the taxi driver in the face (from nose to upper lip), arm and hand.
“While a minority of has-been politicians spew ignorance and fear, it’s the working person on the street who has to face the consequences,” said NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai. “This kind of bigotry only breeds more violence and makes taxi drivers all the more vulnerable on the streets where there are no bully pulpits or podiums to hide behind.” The US Department of Labor reports taxi drivers to be thirty times more likely to be killed on the job than other workers.
The 13,000-member NYTWA called on the District Attorney to be vigilant in its prosecution of the attempted murder and hate crime and urged the Governor to sign the Taxi Driver Protection Act, passed by the state legislature on June 26th, 2010, increasing penalties on crimes against taxi drivers and requiring a sign in all taxis, “WARNING: Assaulting a Taxi Driver is Punishable by Up to Twenty-Five Years in Prison.” “Maybe if the warning sign was there, this kind of stranger who comes to us with hatred would have to think twice,” said Anwar Hossain. “At least we could feel safer and not alone. No matter what political issue is going on, at least we could be treated as equal Americans and feel protected.”
July 19 MEET & GREET WITH TLC CHAIRMAN DAVID YASSKY
July 19, 2010
Dear Members,
Greetings. I hope this note finds you in happy and healthy spirit.
We are pleased to announce that TLC Chairperson David Yassky will be joining us at the LaGuardia Airport Main Lot to meet with drivers. Please join us and speak directly with Chairman Yassky about issues that are most important to you.
MEET & GREET WITH TLC CHAIRMAN DAVID YASSKY Tuesday, July 20th 10:00am LaGuardia Airport, Main Lot
How much is your lease? How many hours do you work in your shift to cover the lease? The garages put in a proposal to raise the lease caps – what would you do if you were Chairman Yassky?
Why do you think the 5% is unfair?
How is the fifty cent tax affecting your tips and short trips?
Is the dispatcher requiring a bribe?
Between lease overcharges and bribes, how much are you losing per week?
Hotel doormen still a problem?
What is your suggestion for stopping illegal pick ups?
What do your passengers think of the Taxi TVs? The technology contracts are up this September.
Do you have healthcare? When is the last time you went on vacation with your family on your income?
We all know the issues. Let the head industry regulator know your solutions. Park in the lot and use your time fighting for driver power!
Warmly,
Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director on behalf of Organizing Committee and Staff
June 25: VICTORY! NYS Legislature Passes TAXI DRIVER PROTECTION ACT!
Senate Vote: 60 Yes / 0 No Assembly: 141 Yes / 1 No
THANK YOU To All the Drivers Who Drove to Albany! Your Sacrifice Made this Victory Possible.
Thank you also to the 900+ drivers who made phone calls to their Senator and Assembly Member, and 1,010 who filled out postcards.
UNITED WE CAN WIN.
On Friday, June 25th in a unanimous vote—60 Yes, 0 no—the NYS Senate passed the Taxi Driver Protection Act sponsored by Senator Eric Adams. The Assembly passed the same bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Rory Lancman, on Tuesday, June 22nd in a vote of 141 to 1.
The Taxi Driver Protection Act increases the penalties on assaults against drivers and requires a sticker in every taxicab:
"WARNING: Assaulting A Taxi Driver Is Punishable By Up To Twenty-Five Years In Prison."
On misdemeanor assaults which carry maximum one year prison, the penalty will increase to mandatory and a two year prison term if the victim is a driver. On felony assaults, there will be a penalty enhancement of five additional years to the term if the victim is a driver.
The Governor now has 10 days to sign the bill into law. Even if he does not sign, the bill automatically becomes law.
Look Out for the Date of the Bill Signing with the Governor!
June 21 & 22 Organize for the Taxi Driver Protection Act
Increase penalties for assaults on taxi drivers and require warning signs in taxis. (Download flyer here)
As the state legislature is expected to end their term by the end of this week, your calls and office visits are crucial.
On Monday (June 14th) the Assembly Codes Committee passed the bill with all members voting YES! There was no debate or discussion. We now need to push the SENATE Rules Committee to pass the same bill! And we have only a few days left before Albany ends their term.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
CALL Senate Majority Leader John L. Sampson at 518-455-2788.
CALL your state Senator & Assembly Member AND VISIT Your SENATE District Office. Ask family, friends, or neighbors to come with you. Also ask them to call.
To find the contact information for your state Senator and Assembly Member, go to: http://www.nysenate.gov. Type in your street address and zip code. The contact page for your Senator will appear. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for your Assembly district number. Go to http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ to look up the Assembly Member’s contact information.
SPECIAL Call-in Show on Drivers’ Safety and TDPA Tuesday, June 22nd 10:00am 99.5 WBAI FM Global Movements / Urban Struggles co-hosted by Biju Mathew and Samar Al Dulushi
April 29, 2010 J. Singh STRUCK WITH METAL ROD and told to “go back to your country”
April 23, 2010 A. Abdallah CAR JACKED and ASSAULTED suffering a fractured nose
March 28, 2010 Mohammed Chowdhury SLASHED Across Neck And Beaten In Head And Face
October 31, 2009 Ndiaye Serigne ASSAULTED By Four Masked Passengers
August 7, 2008 Enois Malbranche BLINDED In the Right Eye after Being Shot Point Blank
March 18, 2008 Neeru Singh CHOKED By Passenger Through Partition Window. Called Racial Slurs and Harassed
February 25, 2008 Zakir Howlader CHOKED, Kicked, Punched, Spat On By Rider Exiting Cab.
December 25, 2007 Gurmail Singh BEATEN WITH IRON ROD Repeatedly In The Head – Required 16 Stitches – When Parking Car At End Of Shift.
November , 2007 Mohammed Elwaleed KILLED. Mowed Down By Motorist While Checking Car For Damages After Collision
October 2, 2005 Shajedur Rahman REMAINS IN COMA. Assaulted On The Job By Private Car Motorists
March 29th, 2005 Mamnun Ul Haq STABBED In Back With 10-Inch Hunting Knife, Grazed On Both Sides.
WE DESERVE BETTER. You Can Help Us Make It Happen.
June 16 ACTION ALERT: Organize for the Taxi Driver Protection Act
Increase penalties for assaults on taxi drivers and require warning signs in taxis.
Just Steps Away From Victory!
On Monday (June 14th) the Assembly Codes Committee passed the bill with all members voting YES!There was no debate or discussion.We now need to push the SENATE Rules Committee to pass the same bill!And we have only a few days left before Albany ends their term.
URGENT!!!!
BEFORE FRIDAY, JUNE 18TH
CALL your state Senator & Assembly Member AND VISIT Your SENATE District Office.Ask family, friend, or neighbor to come with you.Also ask them to call.
To find the contact information for your state Senator and Assembly Member, go to:http://www.nysenate.gov.Type in your street address and zip code.The contact page for your Senator will appear.Scroll down to the bottom of the page for your Assembly district number.Go to http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ to look up the Assembly Member’s contact information.
SUPPORT Taxi Driver Protection Act, A.10058-A (Lancman) / S.7022-A (Adams)
URGENT CALL-IN DAYS:Friday, June 11th & Monday, June 14th
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT FOR AN URGENT PUSH TO ALBANY TO PASS THE Act before the session ends for the year. We are expecting votes in both houses within the next few days. If we do not get the Act passed this term, we will have to wait another year before the state legislature resumes session in January 2011. Download flyer here.
While a delegation of us motorcade to Albany on Monday, June 14th, please call Albany Leadership and let them know the safety of taxi drivers matters to you:
Senate Majority Leader John L. Sampson: 518-455-2788
Join the discussion on Wednesday, May 19, 1 - 3 p.m. EDT at www.dol.gov/aapi as Secretary Hilda L. Solis and DOL Leadership host a live webcast featuring a roundtable with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community leaders on challenges facing AAPI workers in the areas of workplace safety and health, wage and hour, AAPI women workers, and labor and community partnerships.
You can submit your question in advance by sending an e-mail to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Please put "question" in the subject line and include your first name and your city and state in the message.
MAY 8 & MAY 11 GENERAL MEETINGS
Participate & Make Your Union Stronger!
Day Drivers:
SATURDAY, May 8 10:00 am 250 Fifth Ave., Rm. 310
Night Drivers:
TUESDAY Night Shift, May 11 1:00 am (Wed. morning) 25 W. 43rd St, 18th Fl. (btwn 5th & 6th Aves.)
Action & Press Conference TUESDAY, March 23 11:45 am 40 Rector St.
On March 22nd, in his last week in office, outgoing TLC Chairman Mathew Daus admitted to the City Council Transportation Committee that "it appears that a fairly significant number" were in fact not overcharges (riders didn't pay more.)
He also admitted a problem with the meters.
Just ten days before, on March 12th, the same TLC Chairman said in a press statement that 35,585 overcharged a total of 1.8 million passengers at a cost of $8.3 million.
He called each and every one of us a crook and a thief.
He called us disgraceful (shameless.)
He ruined our good name in front of the entire world. Now, he admits he lied.
RECLAIM OUR NAME!
Demand an apology. Demand an independent investigation of the TLC’s investigation. Demand an end to the GPS / Meters.
Stand With The Only Organization That Stood Up For The Drivers.
Dec 17 NYTWA Urges Drivers and Families to Demand Cell Phone Rights
For Immediate Release: December 13, 2009 For More Information, please call: Bhairavi Desai at 917-945-7286
TLC Proposes Revocation for 3 Cell Phone Tickets in 15 Months & Says Engine Must be Off for Call to be Legal
The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is urging taxi drivers to pack the hearing room at this Thursday’s TLC Public Hearing when the TLC could vote to revoke a driver’s TLC license for three cell phone summonses in just 15 months. The TLC is also proposing to change the rule to make the only legal use of a cell phone (or any other electronic device) be when the engine is turned off. So even if the car is pulled over and you the driver has no passenger or is off-duty, they would get a ticket. Even if the call is to an emergency operator, the driver would have to prove why it was impossible to pull over, turn the engine off and then call 911. Emergency calls to or from home are not allowed at all. “These rules are outrageous. They are cruel and inhumane, completely ignoring the fact that the driver is a professional, values their life and the life of the safety above anyone else, and works long hours in isolation and danger,” said NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai. The NYTWA is demanding unrestricted hands-free cell phone use.
“We have to come out for the hearing and speak up,” said an angry Osman Chowdhury. Beresford Simmons, a 35-year veteran said these are the strictest rules he has ever seen. “Imagine the abuse by dispatchers outside airport terminals or if you need to answer a call from home but can’t find parking. How can they just take away our jobs, especially in this economy, and leave us vulnerable and alone like this?”
Driver Victor Salazar urged drivers to bring their families to the hearing. “Let TLC board hear from our wife or children what it feels like to call us at 1am and not have us answer. They don’t understand how hard our job is already.” The hearing will take place this Thursday, December 17th at 1:30pm at 40 Rector Street on the 5th Floor.
NYTWA Office Warming Party November 19
May 8: Working Theater's Taxi Workers Night
Performance ofExit Cuckoo
Exit Cuckoo is a hilarious and moving collage of mothers, nannies and caretakers, and the complex chemistry between them.
Please join us for some Friday night fun at NYC's premiere theater for the working class.
Assemblyman Peter Rivera and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, joined by League of Mutual Taxi Owners (LOMTO) and the Committee for Taxi Safety, held a spirited and LOUD press conference at the steps of City Hall to rally behind AM Rivera's rejection of the $1 taxi tax and alternative proposal for a modest increase in the state's jet fuel tax to balance the MTA budget. NYS Senators Eric Martin Dilan and Bill Perkins have introduced a bill to raise the taxi meter by $1 per fare. The money would not go to drivers. It would go to bailout the subways and buses (MTA) and to fix the roads and bridges in upstate New York. The proposal has ignited the rage of taxi workers tired of being scapegoated, ignored, and trampled on.
Drivers received more support as Mayor Michael Bloomberg upped his criticisms of the proposed taxi tax, calling it bothersome and questioning its fairness and practicality. NYS Senator Martin Golden has also been a major critic, citing the tax as an unfair imposition to balance the budgets on taxi drivers' backs...
Assemblyman Peter Rivera also rejects the taxi tax and is instead proposing to raise airlines' jet fuel tax from 6 cents to 25 or 50 cents. The revenue would be enough for the whole bailout. So, no taxi tax, Harlem & East River tolls or payroll tax. Senate is to vote early this week, then the Assembly. If the two don't agree, then a Caucus negotiates a final decision.
It is CRUCIAL that NYS Senators and Assembly Members representing the five boroughs hear from us! Don't let them cast a vote affecting the livelihoods of tens and thousands of yellow taxi, livery and black drivers in NYC and all the neighborhoods served by the MTA FOR YEARS TO COME without hearing from us.
Call Albany Lawmakers and Tell Them You Support Assemblyman Rivera's Proposal for an Increase in the Jet Fuel Tax to Bailout MTA. Let Them Know We Are Against the Taxi Tax and We Vote & Live In Their District!
For Immediate Release: March 21, 2009 For More Information, Please Call: Bhairavi Desai at 212-627-5248
Drivers & Allies Urged to Join Councilman Yassky and Call for End to Lease Overcharges & Abuses
Press Conference With Councilman David Yassky, Central Labor Council Executive Director Ed Ott & Other Supporters:
Monday, March 23 1:30pm City Hall Steps
Subway: 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge; R/W to City Hall; 1/2/3/A/C/E to Chambers
The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is urging all drivers and allies to join Councilman David Yassky as he releases a ground-breaking report on overcharges by taxi brokers and calls for tight regulation and a standard contract to protect the rights of 47,000+ New York City licensed taxicab drivers. Councilman Yassky’s report comes on the eve of a TLC hearing to be held on Thursday, March 26th to address the overcharges and for the first time, differentiate between hybrid and non-hybrid vehicle lease caps.
A leading environmentalist and hybrid advocate, the Councilman seeks to protect the rights of the majority car owners in the industry: “driver-owned-vehicle (DOV) operators.” Two out of every five taxis on the road are paid for by DOV operators who enter into financing arrangements with taxi brokers. Drivers pay for the taxi purchase and financing, medallion rental and all vehicle-related expenses—insurance, repairs, maintenance and summonses. The report uncovers the unequal terms of so-called “contracts” between drivers and the TLC-regulated brokers who routinely hike the costs and deny drivers legal protections or recourse. This is the first time a Council office is issuing such a report and calling for an end to the overcharges, a pressing issue raised by drivers since 2004.
We need you there! Let the cameras show drivers and our allies standing in unity on City Hall steps as our political and labor leaders press our demands forward.
We look forward to seeing you on Monday at City Hall Steps and then on Thursday at the TLC hearing.
TAXI DRIVERS IN FIGHT TO STOP LEASE HIKE & OVERCHARGING
NYTWA Urges Drivers for March 26 TLC Public Hearing
Thursday, March 26th 9:30am TLC: 40 Rector Street, 5th Floor
Taxi drivers are getting ready for a fight to prevent lease cap increases and stop overcharges as the TLC proposes a set of new rules to create different lease caps for hybrids vs. non-hybrid taxis. The hearing will take place on Thursday, March 26th at 9:30am at TLC Headquarters, 40 Rector Street, on the 5th Floor. Lease caps are the TLC-regulated maximum rental fees taxi companies can charge. For hybrids, the TLC is proposing to raise the lease caps by $3 per shift. For non-hybrids, the proposal is to lower the lease caps by $6 per shift beginning May 1, 2009 and by $12 per shift beginning May 1, 2010. The proposal for different caps comes after the Federal Court ruled last November that the TLC cannot require owners to buy hybrids. The city decided not to appeal in court, and instead, come up with “financial incentives/ disincentives.” Basically, more lease money for the owner if they lease out a hybrid and less money if they lease out a non-hybrid. Currently, less than 10% of the city’s 13,235 taxis are hybrids. Taxi drivers pay for 100% of the fuel cost and unlike other major cities or NYC black cars, NYC doesn’t allow yellow cab drivers to charge a fuel surcharge to help off-set high prices.
Union officials are urging drivers to come out for the March 26th hearing in order to stop any large lease cap increases during this process. “Garages and brokers think this is their chance to get a big raise. We have to be there in large numbers to stop them,” said Osman Chowdhury. “Every driver is suffering because business is very slow right now and the lease is too high. If drivers want to stop this suffering, we have to stand together and come to the hearing.”
The NYTWA called for rules to protect drivers to also be passed during this new rulemaking. “Drivers are being overcharged as much as $50 - $100 a week, 52 weeks of the year,” said NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai. “We’ve been calling for TLC to make hidden and added lease costs illegal and require the owners to give receipts and copies of the lease agreement to all drivers.” The TLC is also proposing a $1,000 fine to owners who punish a driver for making a complaint, a major union concern. New rules would also allow a TLC Judge to require an owner to repay the driver if the garage or broker is found guilty of an overcharge. Currently, the driver has to take the case to civil court. New rules would also give TLC employees the right to file an overcharge complaint in TLC court, without needing the presence of the driver. “For 30 years under leasing, (drivers) have been held hostage to rules while the owners have been left free without any rules or restrictions. It’s about time the ground was made even,” said Beresford Simmons.
As a Result of NYTWA’s Struggle MAYOR TO STOP LEASE OVERCHARGES & ABUSES
TLC Public Hearing Thursday, March 26th 9:30am TLC: 40 Rector Street, 5th Floor
After years of our struggle, the TLC is finally proposing rules to stop garages/brokers from overcharging on the lease caps and violating drivers’ rights! Thousands of you have complained that the garage is charging you daily rate for a weekly car…the broker is charging a tax stamp or additional driver fee…no broker/garage will give a receipt….they don’t give the credit card reimbursement at the end of the day or in cash…you don’t know where to complain or are afraid of losing your car if you do…and more.
NYTWA took your complaints straight to the Mayor’s Office. So now finally the TLC is proposing new rules to stop garages/brokers from overcharging and other abuses against drivers.
Come to the TLC Public Hearing on Thursday, March 26th and stand up and fight! This is our time to win our protection! Victory is in YOUR hands…garages/brokers will be there to try to stop drivers from winning our rights…YOU MUST BE THERE to stop the overcharging & abuses!
Night Drivers Tuesday Night Shift, March 3rd, 1:00am (technically Wed. morning) 25 West 43rd Street, 18th Fl. (meeting hall of CUNY’s Murphy Institute for Worker Education) Great FREE Parking on Street and large hall. Everyone Welcome for some snacks, drinks, celebration and strategizing!
Day Drivers Sunday, March 8th 11:00am 130 East 29th St. Between 3rd Ave. & Lex.
Thursday, Feb. 19th, 4pm: Congratulations! You are the first to know... we are just coming back from a meeting with the Mayor's Office and can tell you that the city has agreed to NYTWA’s proposals! First, no more letting wheel-chair accessible vans go straight to the shorty line. Now, they will only get a shorty ticket after completing a dispatched fare of a rider in a wheel-chair (not street hails.) Second, the wheel-chair van drivers will not have to suffer the blackberry or be forced to log-in to a zone. They will get a message if a fare is available through the dispatch program and the first driver to respond will get the fare. We are proud of our victory and thank all the JFK drivers who have stood strong and supported the union! New policies begin March 1st! For more info, see press release here.
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