Las Vegas Region News

T "Ruthie" Jones
Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas Taxi Drivers Union News
by Theatla “Ruthie” Jones

There are exciting things happening in Las Vegas.

The Alliance is going full-board, signing up members and assisting the local in its efforts before the Taxicab Authority Board.

In August, the Alliance for Taxi & Limo Drivers, made up of the two unions representing taxi drivers, organized a protest in front of the Grant Sawyer Government Building where the T.A. Meeting was being held. More than 200 drivers showed up, as well as many of our brothers and sisters from other local unions, to protest proposed increases in the number of taxicabs on the streets. The more taxis on the street, the less money our members will make, directly impacting their standard of living. The news media turned out to provide coverage and our picketing was featured on the nightly news at two of the local stations.

As a result, the requested allocation of cabs was reduced in half. Still too much, we feel, but far better than anyone expected. Thank you, Alliance!

In August, we again faced the T.A. Board on the issue of a temporary fuel surcharge that not all our members were sharing in.

This was the third time the ITPE went before the Board on this matter! Gene Brady, USW Vice President, and I successfully argued before the Board as to why this fuel surcharge should be changed to a permanent rate increase. This change was requested repeatedly from May all the way through August. This change gives all drivers the right to share in this rate increase. We conveyed to the Board, all drivers are hurting financially not just some. This should have originally been a permanent rate increase, not a fuel surcharge. The tipping point to grant a fuel surcharge was supposed to be $3.25; yet the surcharge was granted when gas prices were still at $3.17, below the tipping point. As a result, the ITPE proposal was granted.

Eldon Alvord, ITPE Shop Steward and Star Driver and Gene Brady USW Vice President, were very instrumental in getting the rate increase on the drop and waiting time. The drop (the amount charged to engage the meter) was increased from $3.20 to $3.30. The Wait Time (the amount charged when the taxi is moving less than 12mph) was increased from $22.00 to $28.00 an hour. Both men put on a fantastic presentation which was very convincing.

We are now in contract negotiations with our largest bargaining unit, Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation. It will be a hard fight as we expect the company to make some outrageous demands on the drivers.

To my Shop Stewards, Thank you, for all your support, dedication, loyalty and hard work. You are greatly appreciated.

To all my Brothers and Sisters and loved ones; with God’s help every day is a day to begin again to trust and feel loved and to know that in all of the confusion, there is a gift to be found….

A local news cameraman catches the action at our picket of the Taxicab Authority.	Standing with us in solidarity, members of UFCW Local 711 join the taxi drivers in their fight for economic justice.
Alliance members show their strength at the July T.A. Meeting.	Executive Board Member Ruthie Jones, Union Plus Representative Debbie Berko and ITPE President John Conley at the OPEIU Convention in June.
Shop Stewards Eldon Alvord and Andrew Turonie proudly hold up the flag of the ITPE during our picket of the Taxicab Authority.	WITH THOUGHTS OF WARM REMEMBRANCE AND EVERY HOPE FOR THE BEST AND SAFEST OF HOLIDAYS. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

SOLIDARITY, PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL

If you would like to contact the ITPE, USW or the Alliance, you can do so at the following:

ITPE
5300 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 102/103, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Ph (702) 384-7171
FX (702) 384-4939
E-mail lasvegasitpe@aol.com

USW Local 711-A, 1800 South Industrial Road, Suite 204, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Ph (702) 477-7620
Fx (702) 477-7626
E-mail gjohn@cox.net

ITPE And Steelworkers -Working Together

See You All In Vegas!

ITPE Footer

		SEARCH	SITE INDEX	CONTACT US	BENEFITS