Organizing
Report

After more than five years of trying every tactic in the book, the 100 or so taxi drivers at Friendly Cab will be starting to negotiate their first union contract with Local 70 as their union representative.

Teamsters Local 70 and the East Bay Taxi Drivers of Oakland forged a relationship about five years ago as a result of the abuse and exploitation bestowed on taxi drivers by the wealthy cab companies operating in the City of Oakland.

In October of 2002 the taxi drivers elected to go union and to be represented by Teamsters Local 70. However, this battle was just beginning. The cab companies refused to recognize the Teamsters as the bargaining agent, claiming the drivers were independent contractors and not employees.

Two years later, in July 2004, the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of the taxi drivers, stating that they were, in fact, employees. The companies still refused to bargain and requested an appeal.

After appealing us to death, in October, 2007, this case was presented to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.On January 8th, 2008, a three-judge panel ruled that these drivers are not independent contractors and must be classified as employees. This ruling is monumental.

With this decision, the drivers are now covered by collective bargaining rules, thus requiring the company to meet with the Teamsters and begin the collective bargaining process.

Over five years, with many ups and downs, the East Bay taxi drivers never lost hope or faith in the Teamsters.

They have participated in so many different actions, from work stoppages and demonstrations that have disrupted the Oakland Airport, to shutting down Oakland City Hall. They have attended numerous City Council meetings and have done whatever it takes to expose the horrendous conditions that taxi drivers must endure.

To quote Anwar Zadran, President and Founder of the East Bay Drivers Association, "This now gives us a voice and power with the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that will give us far better working conditions and raise our economics. This has been a long time coming."

Local 70 will begin working with the drivers at other companies to have them seek union representation, as well.