The Nashville Metro Taxi Driver’s Alliance staged another protest in front of the Metro Courthouse today. They’ve been unable to meet with Mayor Karl Dean about their wage dispute with Allied Cab which also owns Nashville Cab.
Drivers have to pay 175-dollars per week to the cab companies for licensing and use of the dispatch services, which many say is unfair. Several drivers say they’ve been asked not to come back to work.
Alliance President Mohammed Hersi says they want the city to change the law so that cabbies can operate their own cabs.
“We are neither employees nor self-employed. Things are getting mixed up.”
The drivers say this legal limbo means they can’t resolve this dispute. The Metro Council would have to approve any change in cabbies’ licensing status.
Members of the Mayor’s office met with drivers at the end of July. The Mayor’s office says a meeting with Dean is definitely an option, but nothing has been set up. The Transportation Licensing Commission will take up the dispute at its August 26th meeting.
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