'Enough is enough': taxi driver representative on delay in licensing Uber

CP24.com
Aug. 9, 2016
Chris Fox

A representative for a taxi driver association is calling on his fellow cabbies to take part in action to protest the city’s refusal to enforce new bylaws regulating Uber.

A bylaw, which created a separate licensing class for ridesharing services like Uber was officially put into place on July 15 but to date the city has not granted Uber a license under the new law.

As a result, Uber has continued to operate outside of the law and has not been forced to adhere to minimum standards pertaining to the type of insurance possessed by its drivers as well the type and condition of vehicles that are used to transport customers.

For its part, Uber has said that it has “been working to come into compliance” with the new bylaw and “looks forward” to receiving its license soon but many taxi industry representatives have expressed frustration with the city’s delay in granting a licence to Uber and enforcing its stipulations.

Speaking with reporters at a press conference at city hall on Tuesday, iTaxi Workers President Sajid Mughal said that it is time for taxi workers to fight back either through “legal action or job action.”

“Enough is enough. We have come to the conclusion that we must take some action,” Mughal said. “I ask my members, non-members, brokerages, and everyone to participate in job action and send a strong message to the city because this mayor will not listen to the cab industry. He will never listen to the cab industry unless we get united and demonstrate.”

Taxi drivers in the city have staged numerous demonstrations against Uber over the past year, however no job action has occurred since the new bylaw went into effect last month.

That could change, though.

Over the weekend a representative for the United Taxi Workers told CP24 that 60 drivers in the Jane Street and Finch Avenue area have voted to stage some sort of demonstration on Aug. 17 and Mughal said he will participate so long as it is “peaceful and will not interrupt or cause any inconvenience for the public.”

“It’s been a month. Is that not enough time to take their application and give them a license? A month is more than enough,” he said.

License could be issued by end of month

While taxi driver representatives like Mughal have expressed frustration with the slow pace of the licensing process for Uber, the city has asked for patience.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards Tracey Cook explained that the city is working “diligently” on the “processes and systems necessary for the electronic exchange of data” with Uber and that the “required procedural and electronic changes” will take time.

“Our ultimate goal is for private transportation companies to be compliant with the bylaw, and all signs are leading to that goal,” she wrote. “It is anticipated that a license will be issued to Uber, before the end of August. Screening and licensing of individual drivers will commence at that time.”

It is not clear what sort of job action is planned for Aug 17 but a representative for United Taxi Workers previously told CP24 that drivers will avoid blocking hospital areas or any emergency routes or major intersections during the job action.

In her statement, Cook said she respects the right of drivers to protest but would “rather see them continue to offer quality service delivery to the citizens of Toronto.”