‘They are criminals’: Taxi drivers stage hunger strike outside city hall against Uber

Globalnews.ca
Dec. 1, 2015
By Erica Vella

Armed with signs and a large tent, members of the taxi industry are staging a hunger strike outside of city hall to protest Uber operations in Toronto.

“We are starting a hunger strike from today against the criminal gang in the city that is Uber,” said Ambassador taxi driver Krishna Pillai.

“Uber is an international criminal gang. They are here and they have no respect for any law.”

The protestors also erected a tent at Nathan Phillips Square despite warnings of bylaw violations from police and security.

In October, Council voted to see regulations developed to allow Uber to operate legally in the city, but in the meantime asked it to cease operations until then.

Last week, the taxi industry called on the city to pursue another injunction against Uber after a court in Calgary ordered the ridesharing company to pull its drivers off the roads.

Protestors said they will continue with the hunger strike until “Uber stops illegal activity.”

“The Mayor of the city John Tory, is not listening to us. He is supporting a criminal gang, criminal activity ... We have to have a license, we have to have a commercial insurance,” said Pillai.

Mayor John Tory spoke with media on Tuesday, saying he doesn’t think a hunger strike is an effective way to streamline the Uber regulations process.

“I have said many times that we are trying to achieve a regulatory regime which will reduce the levels of regulation on taxis and put Uber under regulation for the first time,” Tory said.

Licensing and Standards executive director Tracey Cook has been handling the delicate taxi-Uber debate and said the protest operations are in the hands of the city hall security.

“The security group here will let them know what they can and cannot do,” said Cook.

“I just wanted to come out and see them because they are our licensees and we are doing work on taxis, so they are important guys.”

Cook added she didn’t want to see protestors harmed as a result of the hunger strike.

“I don’t want anyone to be harmed. They are good guys. They are hard-working guys,” she said.

A spokesperson for Uber said they are concerned to hear reports of the hunger strike.

“We continue to believe that there is room for all of us to serve the different needs of Torontonians and hope that all parties can come together to find solutions that serve the best interests of riders and drivers,” Susie Heath said in a statement.

Regulations for Uber will discussed by councillors in the spring of 2016.