Campaign Related_
HANDOUTS DON’T STOP HUNGER
LATWA CALLS UPON AND GAINS THE SUPPORT
OF LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT A REAL TAXI METER RATE INCREASE
On Tuesday September 13th, The Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance (LATWA) called upon the City Council to support our efforts for a truly meaningful increase in the meter rate to enable thousands of taxi workers and their families to survive. LATWA also called for real relief in the gas crisis through a gas surcharge indexed to gas prices that is added to the meter rate flag drop. While the Taxicab Commission’s proposal to increase the meter rate from $2.00 to $2.20 per mile is a step in the right direction, LATWA believes that it is not enough for taxi workers and their families to survive and make a decent living.
Launch of Campaign
LATWA launched the campaign to push for a "real" increase in the meter rate on September 12th. LATWA organizers met with various Los Angeles City Council members and their staff to take a serious look at the working and living conditions of taxi workers. Most of the Council members were sympathetic to our demands. Since the $0.20 cent increase had already been approved by the Council Transportation Committee and was up for a full council vote on September 13, LATWA made the decision to support the increase but to ask for a commitment from the Council to re-visit this issue in the very near future.
Testimony before City Council
At the full City Council meeting on September 13, LATWA presented our case for real change that will improve work conditions for taxi workers. One after another, taxi workers shared their stories about miserable work conditions and poverty wages that force them to work 12 -16 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no health insurance, no quality time with families, harassment from taxi companies, harassment from law enforcement, and in a dangerous work environment rife with accidents, robberies, physical assaults and life threatening injuries. With pin drop silence in the hall, the Council members intently listened to the stories of human impact on the lives of thousands of taxi workers and their families in Los Angeles.
LATWA gains support of City Council members
After testimony from eight LATWA members, the Council members were visibly moved and came out of their seats to greet the workers and express their support for the cause. Most importantly, several of the City Council members made a public commitment to work with LATWA and to support LATWA’s efforts to seek a meaningful increase in the meter rate that will truly improve the lives of taxi workers and their families.
LET’S ORGANIZE !!
1. PROVIDING WORKERS’ COMP COVERAGE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. For more than 50 years now, most workers in this country have been covered by insurance when they get injured on the job. Small and large businesses, for-profit corporations and non-profits throughout the country all manage to pay for coverage for their workers. The taxi industry is no different and these companies can afford to pay for coverage.
We all know that driving a cab is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country - vehicle accidents, strained and pulled muscles from lifting heavy luggage, stress from police harassment, injuries suffered from violent customers. There are too many stories of taxi workers whose families have lost everything when they were injured and had nowhere to turn.Every worker who drives a cab should be entitled to compensation when they have been injured on the job and cannot work.
2. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IS AFFORDABLE and every taxi worker, drivers and owners alike, can be covered. We all know that HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars per years are collected from owners and drivers by the several taxi companies. What we don’t know for sure is how many TEN OF THOUSANDS of dollars the companies are spending on lobbyists, lawyers, consultants and administrators that do not benefit the workers.
The ALLIANCE has available experienced experts to review the financial documents of these companies to find the money to pay for workers’ compensation insurance. Taxi workers have requested that their companies show them the financials and the companies have refused. We can only assume the reason for this is they do not want the workers to know where all that money is going. We call on the companies to open their financial records to get this issue resolved. Instead, they resort to untrue scare tactics, alleging that the owners will be forced to pay thousands of dollars each. Company management and their lawyers are simply wrong.Taxicab companies should open their books and make workers’ compensation that protects drivers and taxicab owners a priority, rather than wasting money on costs that line the pockets of a few.
STOP THE LIES, STOP THE SCARE TACTICS
LET THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
For further information call theLOS ANGELES TAXI WORKERS ALLIANCE (LATWA)
Been Threatened or Attacked by Passengers, Your Back, Shoulder or Leg Muscles Lifting Luggage?Been Injured in an Accident While On the Job?◊ Immediately Report the Incident to the Company Management.◊ Ask Management to Send You to a Doctor.If the Company Refuses to Send You to A Doctor---
RESPONSE TO COMPANY FALSE SCARE TACTICS
REGARDING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR
WORKERS’ COMPENSATIONHAVE YOU:
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Causing You Injury or Severe Distress?
STEPS TO TAKE:
IMMEDIATELY Call an Attorney who specializes in Workers’ Compensation. (See back of this page for partial list).
If an Attorney takes your case, the Attorney will find you a Doctor AT NO COST TO YOU.
Remember: Keep notes about the injury (time, witnesses). Also keep notes when you report the injury to the company and their response. (Who said what and when they said it).
► Injured
Worker’s Compensation Attorneys
The law firms listed below will provide you with a free consultation regarding claims under Worker's Compensation.
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) is informed that the following attorneys practice in the area of Worker’s Compensation Law. The Legal Aid Foundation, in providing you this referral list, is not in any way making any representation as to the quality of work of any attorney or law firm listed and we will not identify a particular attorney or firm as a preferred choice.
You can also get more names of attorney by calling a local bar association or through the yellow pages under
"Attorneys - Worker's Compensation Law."
Los Angeles Bar Association: (213) 243-1525
Long Beach Bar Association: (562) 432-5913
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