Chicago Cabbies Considering Strike If They Don't Get A Fare Hike
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 27, 2012 2:00PM
Count Chicago cab drivers among those not happy new taxi regulations go into effect July 1. They're upset that leasing a cab can increase by up to 30 percent under the new regulations. Since there wasn't an increase in taxicab fares to go along with with the regulation overhaul, cabbies are threatening to walk off the job if a fare hike isn't in the works.
Taxi drivers proposed a 22 percent fare hike in December after Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the regulation overhaul. Other fee hikes in the cabbies' proposal include a $1 fee for every additional passenger; a $1.50 "convenience fee" for credit card transactions; a $50 fee for fraudulent credit card use; and a $75 fee for cleaning up the vomit of late night warriors. (Which turned into a $50 fee.) There hasn't been a fare hike for Chicago taxis since 2005 and make less than $5 an hour on average.
When the taxi regulation overhaul was approved by City Council in January Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), chair of the City Council Transportation Committee, said hearings would be held in six to seven months. Using that timetable the earliest hearings on a fare increase would be held would be August. Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno (1st) is expected to introduce an ordinance calling for a fare hike at today's City Council meeting. Taxi drivers will hold a press conference later today to discuss the new regulations.