Taxi Drivers Protest Cab Company Fees

About one-fifth of Nashville’s taxi drivers stopped working today. They turned in their equipment to protest what they call unfair labor practices.

Nearly all of the 100 drivers were contracted with Taxi USA, which operates Allied Cab and Nashville Cab. Organizers said they wanted the company to negotiate the $175 weekly fee it charges independent drivers for the use of its name, advertising and dispatch services.

One of the drivers who turned in his Blackberry phone and fare meter says he can barely feed his two young children. Mustafa Bme wants cab companies to shoulder more of the burden of decreased business and high gas prices.

“Already we don’t make nothing. We have family. These people they don’t care — you have family, you don’t have family — they’re going to suck your blood.”

An informal study from a labor group involved in the protest says drivers make a little over $2 per hour after they pay the costs to operate their cab.

A manager at the Allied and Nashville cab office did not want to comment on the protest.

WEB EXTRA:

All six cab companies licensed in the city pay the same flat rate per year for each permit — $255. The companies resell the permits to taxi drivers, who are considered independent contractors. The drivers buy their vehicles, gasoline and insurance in addition to paying the weekly fee, which is between $150 and $175, depending on the company.

The Metro Nashville Taxi Drivers Association was formed in April to lobby for the rights of drivers.

Abdinasir Ismail, one of the founders of the MNTBA, says drivers aren’t making any money because the market is oversaturated. He wants to see the Transportation and Licensing Commission reduce the number of permits available to increase demand.

“Drivers are not making money as they used to do a year ago. The gas is real high and these companies are increasing their weekly fee anytime they can increase it. Right now we’re paying $175, which is too much. They’re not giving us business. If they were giving each driver four calls, five calls a day, then they can afford it. But right now, no driver is getting any call.”

There 569 permits currently on file with the Transportation and Licensing Commission.