Dear Friends,

Taxi workers are going out on our third strike! Support the New York Taxi Workers Alliance as we prepare for our upcoming October 22nd 24-hour Strike and 12noon demonstration at TLC Headquarters at 40 Rector St. to protest the GPS tracking, and to demand the right to health care, a retirement pension, and union recognition for all drivers

This is a historic moment in our struggle for justice and equity for 43,000 license holders. We have been organizing without a strike fund, mandatory membership and dues, operational support or collective bargaining which would require the bosses to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. Our strikes have become the building blocks to an independent union. We're looking for volunteers of all types, whether you have lots of time or only a little, whether you can help for months or just one day. Volunteer to hand out fliers, make phone calls to update our members, help us keep our office running smoothly, and more

For more information or to sign-up to volunteer

please contact Kavita Mehra at kavitamehra@gmail.com

You can reach New York Taxi Workers Alliance at 212-627-5248

The Taxi and Limousine Commission has refused to listen to the tens of thousands of strikers of September who sacrificed not only two days hard-earned income, but operating expenses which drivers pay up front to the bosses to lease the taxi and medallion for the shift. Rather than health care, retirement pension, an 8-hour work day or livable income, the Taxi and Limousine Commission would rather require costly equipment to track drivers and force riders to listen to ads on TV monitors in the backseat. The monitors heat up the partition against the driver's back for 12 hours. Drivers will also lose 5% of the fare, including tolls and tips, on every credit card transaction

On the other side are corporations owned by taxi insiders, including the President of the garages' association and the biggest meter shop, who are looking to profit over $200 million per year off our backs

Our members have voted to strike again and we are writing to ask for your solidarity and support to prepare for October 22. Below is an editorial in support of taxi workers which ran in the New York Daily News on Sunday, October 14th

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/10/14/2007-10-14_raw_deal_for_cabbies.html Join us as we mobilize for October 22nd and fight for just and respectable working conditions

In Solidarity

Bhairavi Desai on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance