Schneiderman: Cab Drivers Deserve An Honest Day’s Pay For An Honest Day’s Work
(NEW YORK) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner David Yassky yesterday published an op-ed in the New York Daily News on their joint effort to protect taxicab drivers’ earnings. Under a first-of-its-kind agreement with one of New York City’s largest fleet owners, the two agencies secured nearly $750,000 in restitution for drivers who were illegally overcharged to lease their cabs and medallions. The following are excerpts from the op-ed:
ON THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY TAXI DRIVERS IN MAKING ENDS MEET: Driving a taxi is one of the toughest jobs in New York City. Many cabbies work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, in all kinds of weather — providing an essential service without minimum wage, overtime or the other basic labor protections that most workers enjoy.
ON THE NEED FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE TAXI INDUSTRY: When unscrupulous fleet owners cheat drivers out of their already meager earnings by charging inflated lease rates and adding on illegal extra charges and fees, vigorous enforcement is needed. That’s why, this year, the attorney general’s office and Mayor Bloomberg’s Taxi and Limousine Commission formed a partnership to investigate and bring cases against fleet owners who violate lease cap rules.
ON THE SETTLEMENT: Evgeny (Gene) Freidman, who owns nearly 900 taxi medallions, will pay nearly $750,000 in restitution to more than 1,000 drivers who were charged inflated lease rates and bogus fees, as well as $500,000 in fines. Going forward, increased oversight will ensure that his taxi companies comply with the law.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ENFORCING THE TLC’S LEASE CAP RULES: Lease cap rules limit the owners’ take to roughly 40% of passenger fares. Gas, insurance and other expenses eat up another 10%, leaving cabbies with only about half the money they bring in each shift (and sometimes much less, when weather or other factors keep fares inside) — often barely equaling the minimum wage. Deep-pocketed fleet owners cannot be allowed to take more than their fair share from hardworking drivers who depend on their cabs for their livelihood.
ON DEFENDING NEW YORK’S LABOR LAWS: Cab drivers deserve an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. As a new generation of progressive labor leaders seeks new ways to protect these deserving American workers, we will continue to work creatively to enforce labor laws — and to use all the laws at our disposal — to ensure that every worker gets a fair shot and every company pays its fair share.
The full op-ed by Attorney General Schneiderman can be read here.
