Timeline

January 2008

  • UTCC formed

May 2008 Issue

  • UTCC organized a successful demonstration to upgrade charges against driver Staley Shen’s attacker to a felony.
  • UTCC was officially recognized by the Transportation Committee and as offered the opportunity to present its data at the gas surcharge hearing at City Hall.
  • UTCC created an Incident Report form to collect examples of unjust interaction between cabdrivers, city authorities, and others.

June 2008 Issue

  • UTCC proposes that Driver Safety Placards be installed in Chicago taxis.

July 2008 Issue

  • UTCC signs the “Declaration of Unity and Solidarity” with New York Taxi Workers Alliance

August-September 2008 Issue

  • As part of the ‘Equitable Olympics 2016’ platform, UTCC proposes that taxi drivers earn a living wage and that a centralized dispatch system be created.

October-November 2008 Issue

  • UTCC organizes a rally and strike for a fare increase.

December 2008 Issue

  • Cab drivers strike from November 30, 2008 at 2:00PM to December 1, 2008 at 2:00PM.  The strike called for a 16% fare increase; lease rate freeze and enforcement of lawful leasing practices; restoration of meter and a half to Skokie, Burbank, and Elk Grove Village; and a moratorium on issuing new medallions.

April 2009 Issue

  • Driver Stanly Shen’s attacker pleaded guilty and was found guilty of assaulting Shen.
  • UTCC worked with O’Hare’s Office of Aviation to protect drivers from receiving parking tickets in O’Hare’s parking lot while they prayed in the shelter.

June 2009 Issue

  • UTCC and Aldermen in ‘red zones’ sign “Not in My Ward” pledge to address violence against drivers and demand installation of safety placards in Chicago cabs.
  • Driver Walid Ziada’s attacker was found guilty of battery on June 18, 2009.
  • UTCC opened its new office at 2040 N Milwaukee Ave.

December 2010 Issue

  • UTCC called for action against $2 hike in the Airport Departure Tax.

May 2011 Issue

  • UTCC organized the International Cultural Day for drivers on September 4, 2011.

August-September 2011 Issue

  • The Executive Council of AFL-CIO voted unanimously to welcome the Taxi Workers Alliance into the house of labor with a national Organizing Committee charter to unionize taxi drivers throughout the US.
  • UTCC hosted a ‘Health Fair’ at O’Hare on January 14, 2012.

May 2012 Issue

  • UTCC led driver mobilization and held a press conference at City Hall to call for a moratorium on lease cap increases.
  • UTCC hosted more ‘Health Fairs’ at O’Hare on May 12, 2012 and June 16, 2012.

June 2012 Issue

  • UTCC picketed City Hall on June 27, 2012 to demand a hearing on a fare increase.

July 2012 Issue

  • In response to lease cap increases, UTCC organized a strike from 6:00AM to 11:00am on Monday, July 2, 2012.
  • UTCC’s standardized lease proposal is implemented.

September 2012 Issue

  • UTCC partnered with DePaul students to survey drivers about what issues they would like UTCC to focus on in upcoming campaigns.
  • Yellow Cab Company was ordered to return its illegally collected bond money to its drivers.

March 2013 Issue

  • Driver Sandra V. received $5390 in lease overcharge settlement.
  • UTCC votes to support “Callahan v. City of Chicago” lawsuit, a suit that held the city responsible for drivers’ low wages and called for the city to be liable for back pay for drivers who joined the class action.
  • UTCC helped driver Muhammad Abdi bring his attacker to justice and organized other drivers to support Abdi during his court hearing.
  • On July 2, 2012, Chairman Fayez Khozindar was arrested at O’Hare for trespassing.  Khozindar was securing the airport to ensure a successful strike that resulted in a fare increase hearing with the transportation committee.

May 2013 Issue

  • Driver Eric P. Martin received $1275 in lease overcharge settlement.

March 2014 Issue

  • Driver Domingo Carino received $3788 in lease overcharge settlement.  As part of the same case, Dispatch Cab Company was fined $16,000.
  • UTCC continues to work on ‘Parking Tickets While Sleeping’ issue.   After meetings with Aldermen, drivers are allowed to park taxicabs on business streets in the 23rd, 40th, 46th, 49th, and 50th wards from 2:00AM to 7:00AM without being ticketed.

June 2014 Issue

  • On April 12, 2014 UTCC and the National Taxi Workers Alliance signed a memorandum to expedite UTCC’s affiliation with AFL-CIO’s national taxi union.
  • Drivers filed a lawsuit against Yellow, Carriage, Dispatch, and Flash Affiliation owners.  The lawsuit will challenge the classification of drivers as ‘independent contractors’ and will demand payment of back wages for drivers.
  • UTCC collected over 1000 signatures in support of increasing Chicago drivers’ pay.  The petition was submitted to the mayor’s office on April 21, 2014.
  • Globe Taxi supports UTCC’s membership drive

October 2014 Issue

  • UTCC proposed their 10-Point Comprehensive Income Improvement Plan to Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
    • The City adopted 5 of the points proposed by UTCC,
  • UTCC was invited by Commissioner Guerra Lapacek to work on a Task Force to address issues of cab industry overregulation, unfair treatment of drivers by regulatory entities, and unjust Administrative Hearing processes.
  • UTCC won another ‘Ticket While Sleeping’ campaign, getting overnight restrictions lifted on a number of business streets in the 23rd, 40th, 46th, 49th, and 50th wards.

December 2014 Issue

  • UTCC published a special issue devoted to news about Uber.

March 2015 Issue

  • Driver Chinedu Madu was murdered by a passenger on January 8, 2015.  UTCC organized a fundraising campaign and collected over $3,000 for Madu’s family.  Madu is survived by his wife and five year old son.
    • Thank you to everyone who supported the Madu family.
  • On February 17, 2015, UTCC organized an action wherein hundreds of cabs circled City Hall in protest against Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s refusal to regulated transportation network providers like Uber.
    • UTCC hosted a press conference at City Hall where mayoral challenger Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia pledged to level the playing field between cab companies and rideshare companies if elected.
  • Driver Mohd A. received $5,780 in lease overcharge settlement, and Dispatch Cab Company was fined $35,000 for misconduct.
  • UTCC provided legal support for drivers who were wrongfully ticketed by a police officer in front of Omni Hotel.