Results tagged “surcharge”

As gas prices continue to plummet, the gas surcharge on taxis is going away for good. The $0.50 surcharge kicks in when gas prices reach $2.70 per gallon and then rises to $1 when gas hits $3.20 a gallon. The surcharge was dropped back to $0.50 on Halloween, prompting the first warning of a cabbie strike and as the surcharge is now slated to go away Friday, the cabbies of Chicago are renewing that threat. United Taxidrivers Community Council chairman Fayez Khozindar has set a November 25th press conference during which the date for the strike will be announced.

That cut in the gas surcharge has enraged the city's cabbies to the point they've threatened a strike unless Mayor Daley enacts a proposed 16 percent fare hike, tentatively scheduled to go into effect next spring, by January 1, 2009. They've given the Mayor a two-week deadline. United Taxidrivers Community Council chairman Fayez Khozindar said, "We refuse to be subjected to this roller coaster. We are not beggars. We need a permanent fare increase — 16 percent on the meter. If the city will not treat its ambassadors decently, then we'll act ourselves and paralyze the city one day, two days or three days. We’ll do it when it’s successful for us. It will be a surprise for the city." Yeah, guys, strong arm Mayor Daley; we're sure he'll love that.