City cabbies ready to strike over fuel surcharge though many question the outcome

A lack of unity among city cabdrivers, due mainly to the ethnic diversity of the group, could be a roadblock for those planning to strike against the fuel surcharge waiver implemented at midnight Friday.  

As murmurs of a strike vibrate through the city, cabdrivers are divided on whether to protest in times of such economic instability, despite everyone pushing for a 16 percent fare hike.  

While some cabdrivers say they need to protest against the waiver by striking, others say such action would be ill-timed. "With (cabdrivers from) so many different countries everyone wants their country to be on top so it never gets done,” said Mujtaba Siddiqui from Hyderabad in India, who’s been driving for the last eight years.  

Another cabdriver, Saleem from Pakistan, said he wasn’t optimistic about a united front.  

"There will always be talk but it’s very difficult to get everyone to actually strike,” he said a few hours before the surcharge was waived while stopping to fill up his tank at the Shell gas station at Ridge and Devon avenues. “Each one has his own interests.”

Steve Weidersberg, 58, the president and founder of the Chicago Professional Taxicab Drivers Association, who’s been driving for 25 years, said the problem extends beyond just unity.  

“The problem we have now is lack of unity and lack of education and awareness,” he said. “Some cab drivers just want to strike because they’re angry but don’t realize that it’s the worst time to strike. The economy is in the pits, and cab drivers are not going to get any sympathy from the public.”

The issue has been simmering since April 1 when two contentious provisions were implemented: tripling of fines related to driving violations and granting authority to the city’s consumer services commissioner for revoking licenses before drivers were proven guilty.

“The surcharge waiver is just one issue we’re angry about,” said Fayez Khozinder, chairman of the United Taxi Driver Community Council. “We’re going to announce a date for striking on Nov. 25.”  

As of now, Khozinder said, they expect to strike for one full day and if their demands are not met, they will continue to strike for four to seven hours every day thereafter.  

Khozinder said a lack of unity isn’t going to obstruct the movement for a strike. “We’ve spoken to 4,500 drivers from different nationalities already and 95 percent have agreed to strike,” he said. “We have ten more days to get the other 5,000 to 6,000 drivers on our side.”

Another contributing factor to the drivers’ overall frustrations is the faltering economy. “Last year, in one day I used to get 55 to 60 customers, now I get 40 to 45,” said Mohammed Sayani, born in Pakistan but who has lived in the U.S. since he was two years old and is now student at DePaul University majoring in finance and economics. “People who’ve been laid off are now driving cabs but more drivers means less clients.”

Mukuila Sokoya, a Nigerian who’s been driving for 15 years, said the problem wouldn’t be solved even if the strike is successful. “Even if they raise the fare, it doesn’t stop the fact that people are not taking cabs.”

The Chicago Transit Authority announced Friday that effective Jan. 1, 2009 a 25 cent fare increase would be implemented for most riders.  

Saleem said cabdrivers are frustrated with the preferential treatment given to public transportation. “Why do they increase bus and train fares and not taxi fares?”

Chris Ekwuazi, a Nigerian cabdriver, seemed to have the answer. "The city has to balance the budget and when they do they take a sledgehammer to the taxicabs."