United To Win

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United To Win
The Quarterly Newsletter of United Taxicab Workers Sponsored by Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO Volume XX Number 1 $1.00 Donation Winter 2007 PC&N Hearing Set for Feb. 13 The Taxi Commissions 2007 Public Convenience
and Necessity (PC&N) hearing on the subject of taxi
service and whether more cabs are needed will take
place Tues., Feb. 13 in City Hall, Room 400. The
meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
Those wishing to participate may testify in person
or make submissions in writing. Submissions must be
received by Feb. 6. The commissions address is:
25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 420, San Francisco, CA 94102.
The commission will also vote on its 2007-08
proposed budget at the Feb. 13 meeting. UTW Enters its 20th Year! If you check out the volume number of this
newsletter, located directly above this box, youll
note that this is the 20th year of United to Win!
Thats right United Taxicab Workers has been
defending the rights and promoting the interests of
San Francisco cab drivers for almost two decades.
That may make us the longest-established voluntary
association of taxi drivers in the country. (At least,
we dont know of any that have been around longer.)
For a summary of some of our accomplishments,
turn to page 6. For an idea of what were up to now,
just read this publication. And as for the future, stay
tuned. The best is yet to come and maybe sooner
than you think. UTW Chair
Thomas
George-
Williams
shows off
his new
mailbox. A
mysterious
blast on
Dec. 12
destroyed
the old one.
Was it a
warning or
a prank?
Thomas
tells the
tale on
p.4. Health Care Plan On its Way at Last By Ruach Graffis
Imagine getting health care for a cost you can afford.
Getting your blood pressure checked regularly. Getting
that flu shot every year so your passengers dont make
you sick every winter. Talking to a nutritionist so that
high blood sugar count doesnt turn into diabetes. Going to the doctor when you need to, instead of waiting
until it becomes an emergency.
The last time cab drivers had health care coverage
was in the late 1970s, when we still had a union contract.
Thanks to the efforts of the United Taxicab Workers,
health care may soon become a part of our industry again.
In 2002, in conjunction with a meter and gate raise,
the Board of Supervisors passed a law requiring that,
consistent with a city feasibility study, cab drivers get
health care coverage. As a way to motivate the companies
to work for the common good of the industry, a health
care plan, if found feasible, was supposed to be
implemented by January 2004, or the citys gate cap was
to revert back to $85. A City Controllers study said it
was possible to provide health care for cab drivers. We
should have been off to the races, but we all know what
happened next.
Nothing.
2004 came and went. So did 2005. It was 2006, (Continued on p.4) Winter 2007 2 United to Win At the Taxi Commission
The Taxi Commission meets the second and
fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m., in room
400 of City Hall. Special meetings may be scheduled
as needed. The following is a summary of significant
commission proceedings at recent meetings: November 14
The commission discussed adoption of an attendance
policy for commissioners.

It approved a survey of taxi service to be conducted in
connection with the commissions upcoming Public
Convenience and Necessity hearing and a survey of drivers
on the subject of health care for use by its Health Care
Working Group.

David Augustine of the Treasurer and Tax Collectors
Office informed the commission that his office intends to
charge taxi drivers an annual $25 registration fee for doing
business in the city. He said city law required payment of
the fee. (See p.3.) November 28
Sgt. Ron Reynolds, recently assigned to the Taxi
Detail, introduced himself to the commission.

The commission appointed economist Brian Browne
to the Health care Working Group to replace Luxor Cab
President John Lazar, who had resigned from the group.

It upheld Executive Director Heidi Machens decision
denying a medallion applicants request for a waiver of the
applicants driving requirement on the basis of disability,
and offering an accommodation rejected by the applicant. December 12 The commission again discussed the Treasurers
determination that taxi drivers must pay an annual business
registration fee. (See p. 3.)
It conducted its annual taxi safety hearing. (See p.3.)
It approved a change in its By-Laws establishing an
attendance policy for commission members. January 9 The commission heard a presentation on the citys 311
Call Center, which will begin operations March 29.
It denied a request by a medallion holder for a waiver
of the driving requirement on the basis of disability. January 23 The commission discussed its 2007-08 budget and the
hiring of investigators. (See below.) Oka Appointed to Commission Mayor Gavin Newsom has appointed Bruce Oka to
fill the senior/disabled seat on the Taxi Commission. He
replaces Michael Kwok, who resigned his seat at the
commissions Jan. 9 meeting.
Oka has been an advocate for the disabled for some
40 years. He is a founding member of the San Francisco
Municipal Railway Advisory Committee and a sensitivity
trainer for taxi drivers, the Police Department and Muni.
He has served as president of the United Cerebral
Palsy Association of San Francisco and President of the
Committee on Asians with Developmental Disabilities.
He is also a consultant on the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Hyatt Hotels. Oka is an alumnus of Mission High School and holds
bachelors and masters degrees in Health Education
and Health Sciences from San Francisco State
University.
Among his main priorities on the commission are
giving the disabled community decision-making power
over the awarding of ramp taxi medallions, getting a
health care plan for taxi drivers and making 25 percent
of taxis wheelchair accessible.
Mayor Newsom also reappointed Commission Vice-
President Patricia Breslin to her hospitality industry
seat. Breslin is Director of the Hotel Council.
Supervisor Chris Daly asked the Board of
Supervisors to review Breslins appointment, but after a
public hearing the Board let the nomination stand. Waybill Audit Finds Massive Fraud An audit of waybills for 2005 has uncovered
massive fraud on the part of some medallion holders
who are violating the Proposition K driving
requirement. The audit, conducted by Taxi
Commission staff, found 112 medallion holders to be
egregious violators of the requirement. Another 122
are under further investigation, while 223 more have
been asked to provide missing waybills.
Staff has requested funding for two investigators to
conduct further investigations and prepare disciplinary
proceedings against violators. The investigators would
also have authority to cite drivers for rule infractions
and issue citations against vehicles illegally providing
taxi services.
The commission will decide whether to include the
request in its proposed budget at its Feb. 13 meeting. 3 United to Win Winter 2007 Commission Holds Safety Hearing There were 14 reported taxi robberies between Jan.
1 and early December, down from 20 robberies in
2005, according to Sgt. Ron Reynolds of the Taxi
Detail. Sgt. Reynolds presented the figures at the Taxi
Commissions annual safety hearing, held Dec. 12.
Sgt. Reynolds reported that cab drivers committed
four sexual assaults and one kidnapping and false
imprisonment in 2006. Two drivers reportedly made
terrorist threats.
The commission heard from Dan Borg, supervisor
of the Ground Transportation Unit at San Francisco
International Airport. The GTU is in charge of annual
taxi inspections.
Borg was critical of the commissions rule allowing
taxis to remain in service until they reach eight model
years or have gone 350,000 miles. He questioned the
structural integrity of vehicles with that much use.
Jim Aldrich of the Office of Emergency Services
talked about incorporating taxis into the citys
emergency response planning. He suggested that
drivers could be paid with city vouchers for providing
transportation during an emergency.
The crime statistics did not include the murder of a
driver in the city of Richmond last year. Musharaf
Poswal, a long-term lessee at Yellow Cab, was killed
Oct. 15 while leaving his cab for the day driver.
There also was a recent incident at Arrow Cab in
which three drivers were held up in the drivers room.
UTW has filed a complaint with the California
Occupational and Safety Administration (Cal OSHA)
urging safety improvements at the lot. Yellow and Luxor Still Overcharging Drivers Despite an increase in the citys gate cap and a
pending class-action lawsuit, Yellow and Luxor cab
companies continue to violate the cap.
The Board of Supervisors raised the cap from $85 to
$91.50 effective Nov. 1. But Yellow and Luxor are
charging an average of $92.50, as they have been for the
past several years.
United Taxicab Workers and three cab drivers brought
the lawsuit against Yellow, Luxor and Arrow cab
companies to recover gate overcharges since Sept. 1, 2004.
The gate cap was reduced to $85 as of that date, but the
three defendants and other companies continued to charge
the previous gate of $91.50 a shift or higher. Arrow, which
still charges $91.50, is currently in compliance with the
cap.
According to our attorneys, it will be some time
before the lawsuit comes to trial. In the meantime, the
Taxi Commission has taken no action to stop Yellow and
Luxor from continuing their overcharges.
The meter is running. Tax Collector Sets Sights on Drivers Through Business Registration Fee You paid for your new A-card and thought you were
square with the city till next year? Not so fast. The
Treasurer/Tax Collector has decided that in addition to
the A-card fee, from now on drivers must pay a business
registration fee.
The fee for drivers is $25 a year. In late January, the
Tax Collector sent drivers a bill for $50 to cover the
2006-07 and 2007-08 fiscal years.
David Augustine of the Tax Collectors Office
informed the Taxi Commission in November that his
office would be collecting the fee, which it had never
imposed before. He claimed city law required it.
A subsequent opinion of the City Attorneys Office
seemed to back him up. But on a return visit by
Augustine to the commission in December, Comm.
Malcolm Heinicke asked Augustines s office to look into
the matter again. Heinicke suggested that cab drivers
were acting as agents of cab companies rather than
conducting their own businesses, and shouldnt be subject
to the fee.
Without responding to Heinickes request, the Tax
Collector sent out the bills. They are due Feb. 28.
UTW has received numerous complaints and
requests for advice. We are suggesting that drivers not
pay for now. Were weighing our legal and political
options, and will update drivers before the deadline. Expired A-Card Could Be Costly If you havent yet renewed your A-card, do it
soon. A-cards renewed after Jan. 31 currently incur
increasing penalties, from 10 percent for up to one
months delinquency to 25 percent or more. Permits
that are not renewed by June 30 are subject to
revocation by the Taxi Commission.
But under new legislation expected to become law,
A-card holders who do not renew by April 1 would be
required to file a new A-card application and pay the
applicable fee of $65 plus the A-card renewal fee and
a 25 percent penalty.
And drivers who do not renew by April 30 will
have their permits automatically expire. They will
have to obtain a new A-card, which means completing
taxi school and attending the police orientation class.
The total cost would be about $300. Winter 2007 4 United to Win Mysterious Blast Destroys UTW Chairs Mailbox By Thomas George-Williams
I was sitting in front of my computer on Wednesday,
Dec. 12 around 3:45 p.m., enjoying my off-day, when the
building shook from an explosion. I looked up and saw a
cloud of grayish smoke about 30 feet high coming from
the place where my mailbox used to be.

I went outside to discover that some scumbag blew
up my mailbox. Pieces of it were scattered in a 25-foot
circle around the place where it once stood. Police and
San Mateo bomb-squad experts closed down four city
blocks for several hours while they conducted an
investigation into the blast. Residents were asked to stay
in their homes as a precaution.

Pacifica Police Chief Jim Saunders gave me an
update on the investigation on Jan. 12. The explosive
device was not a bomb but a large M-80 firecracker. M-
80s, which are illegal under federal law, typically carry
60 times the amount of explosives allowed in
firecrackers. Pacifica police have no suspects and did not
call the FBI or the United States Postal Police into the
investigation.

I want to make clear that I hope nobody in the taxi
industry had anything to do with this. But I know that
many companies and medallion holders are very angered
by me and UTWs latest actions for workplace justice.
For instance, they are more than angry about our multi-
million dollar lawsuit against three of the largest
companies. We are asking the court to make them pay
back the money they overcharged drivers for more than
two years.

Many medallion holders are angry about our
affordable healthcare proposal for all cabdrivers. Theyve
been misled into believing that they would have to pay for the whole plan, something we never proposed.
Considering these facts, I have to take this as a
cowardly attack and a sign that we are doing something
right at UTW.
I want to thank our friends at the New York Taxi
Workers Alliance for sending a solidarity letter to the
Attorney General of the State of California. I quote:
All taxi drivers throughout this country and across
the globe have long faced financial and violent
retaliation for our righteous struggle for work with
dignity, justice, rights and respect. Such acts of
cowardice only strengthen our resolve and embolden our
unity. After all, drivers face more violence on the job
than any other workforce in the USA (US Dept. of
Labor.)
Just as we have an inalienable right to just
working conditions, our leadership and membership have
a right to organize free of threat, physical harm and
retaliation.
In the labor movement, we see that an injury to one is
an injury to all. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, we will
continue to watch this case like a hawk and make sure
justice is served and further violence averted.
We expect UTW Chair Thomas George-Williams,
all the leadership of United Taxi Workers, and the
drivers of San Francisco to be protected. We look
forward to an expeditious investigation that sends a clear
message that violence and intimidation of working people
and our organizers will NOT be tolerated or ignored by
the state of California.
I ask the police to investigate harder, if for no other
reason than to clear our industry from this very bad
public image of violent taxi-company bosses. This image
will linger until the police catch the scumbag who blew
up my mailbox.
Without being naive, I truly hope it was some local
neighborhood brats. Health Plan . . . (Continued from p.1) and still no health care, but the gates stayed high. Finally,
UTW filed a lawsuit demanding a return of the gate
overcharges. That lawsuit is in process.

But finally, something else is also in process: the
Taxi Commission has set up a committee to figure out
how to get health care for everyone in the industry. The
Health Care Working Group has been meeting for several
months. There are five voting members, including two
Taxi Commissioners: President Paul Gillespie, the
drivers representative, and Tom Oneto, the labor rep.
Filling out the voting membership are Brian Browne, a
cab company nominee appointed to replace Luxor Cab
President John Lazar, who resigned from the group; Dennis Korkos, a medallion holder; and myself, a driver
not on the list and a member of UTW.
We have heard presentations from the Department of
Public Health and two insurance services offering private
health plans, as well as analyses by the city controller on
financing options for the plan.
So far the group has agreed that health care must be
mandatory. This eliminates the temptation for companies
to hire only young, healthy drivers who dont need health
care.
We are currently discussing who will pay what
percentage of the plan. We have identified five potential
contributors. Drivers might pay a monthly amount and a
co-pay for services under the plan. Cab companies could (Continued on p.6) Winter 2007 5 United to Win Friends Preserve Memory of Yellow Driver Funds Raised from Internet Appeal Will Help Family and War Victims By Laxman Adhikari Roshan Uttam Rai, a fellow Yellow Cab Driver from Nepal,
committed suicide on November 09, 2006 at his own apartment
located at Daly City, California. The reason behind this
heinous act has not been found yet especially after the
investigatory group, his roommates and relatives failed to get
any hints and suicidal notes at or around his apartment. He
never showed depression, aggression and sad face. He always
kept laughing with his friends wherever he
went, said his roommate. As a singer and
musician, he was always busy singing
songs in various Nepalese concerts in
different parts of the U.S., banquets, get-
together parties and with his friends. He
used to sing his songs of up coming new
Album whenever he met his buddies in
person or on conference phone call.
Friends and well-wishers of Uttam
congregated at his apartment in presence
of his two roommates on the following day
of the incident. Not only did they meet to
know what the story was but also to
discuss how they could move on without
any financial hurdle to conduct the
subsequent matters including cremation
and getting his parents to the US. They
decided to collect donations amid
nationwide Nepalese friends by opening a
trust account. However, having gone to
Wells Fargo Bank on the following day, they came to
acknowledge that it was big time hurdle to prepare so many
paper works to open a trust account. Specially going through
courts by retaining an attorney could not be worse than
anything for small project. So, with an expectation of they
could barely collect about $10,000, Laxman Adhikari, the chief
coordinator of the project, and Nanda Rai opened the joint
checking account so that people can deposit money directly in
the account regardless of their location.
Mr. Rai handled the account and financial transaction.
Similarly, Mr. Adhikari was assigned two things; one, design a
website; and two, correspondence. Upon completion of
designing a simple site (www.nepalgate.com/uttam) with
heartfelt pleading to the readers and putting viable information
including developing news regarding the case, he did mass
e-mail having web links with request to forward the link to
each and everybody one knows in US. Mr. Adhikari and his
friends called lots of people with request to relay the
information and to get some financial help. They personally
appreciated the donors by phones or e-mails or in person on
behalf of Uttams family. In order to conduct his funeral, Uttams parents and
siblings were invited by NANC, Nepal Association of Northern
California, with full of assurance to the U.S. Embassy in
Kathmandu that the association would bear the total
expenditure of the family during their short visit to the USA.
Nevertheless, the embassy monotonously granted a visa to his
father only. A bereaved father by no means would make via so
many transits all the way to San Francisco. His maternal uncle
Buddhi Rai, who resides in Ohio State, was authorized by Mr.
Rais parents to conduct the funeral service. In support of
Nepalese community in bay area, his uncle performed the
funeral service after 12 days of the incident. As accordance with the previously
made plan, the donation amount would not
exceed $10,000 and they would send the
left over amount to his family as relief
package. On the contrary, they have
collected more than $25,000 so far and
people are still sending checks. The
expenditure up until now indicates they
have about $16,000 remained. So, the
question is whether the total amount
should go to his parents or partial amount
can be spent in some philanthropic project
under his name in or around his village.
They are thinking to provide $10,000
to his family and rest of the amount be
spent in educational sector in his village
area under his name. The village Uttam
comes from lies in the Mt. Everest region
and it takes approximately four days rough
walking to or from the nearest road access.
The area had been terrorists headquarter during the civil war in Nepal which is currently under truce
agreement. The school children and locals were compelled to
participate in various military-typed functions organized by the
Maoists. Moreover, the local people were given unwanted
position and responsibility by the Maoists. Those youths, who
rejected the potent compulsion, left the village in fear of
persecution. It is still very hard to find men aged 16-50 except
the ones who have accepted the terrorists rules and agreed to
cooperate with them. There are handful records that the
Maoists and Nepal Army ruthlessly killed locals in allegation
of cooperating either one adversary side or being defiant to
comply with their demand. There are handful numbers of
children who have become orphans throughout their life and
deprived from having what they deserve.
Now Uttams friends are trying to provide scholarship and
minimal salary to the poor and orphan children under this fund.
The planning is not concrete yet and the discussion is under
way to approach its final phase of planning. The project can not
incorporate the whole area of Uttams hometown district but
his solo village. Uttam Rai United to Win 6 Winter 2007 Problems at SFO? Taxi drivers who
observe problems or
have disputes with
dispatchers inside the
garage or at the
terminal stands at SFO
should contact the on-
duty shift manager at
one of the following
numbers: (650) 821-
2700 or 821-2704.
Problems or
complaints can also be
addressed to Landside Sherry Gendelman Attorney at Law Specializing in Traffic & Criminal Defense and Personal Injury 421 Grand Avenue, Suite A South San Francisco, CA 94080 (650) 615-0117 * Fax (650) 589-3980 Email: sherrygendelman@aol.com THE TAXI DRIVER INSTITUTE 2940 16th Street, Room 314 Between Mission & South Van Ness (1/2 block from BART station and Muni lines) Fulfills the Citys Requirement for Getting an A-Card Taught by a City College Instructor and Long-Time Taxi Driver Class is held from 9-5 Tues.-Fri. To attend, please call for reservations: 701-8294 Class costs $125. Payment may be made in cash, by money order or by credit card through our web site: www.taxidriverinstitute.org Need Help or Advice? Call UTW Whats the maximum gate your company can charge?
Are you required to post a security deposit?
Can you be charged back gates if you miss a shift?
Are you entitled to workers compensation?
If you lose your job, can you collect unemployment?
What if youre assigned an unsafe cab?
If youd like the answer to these or other work-related
questions, were here to help. Call us at 864-8294. SFO Taxi Pick-ups, 2000-2006 % Change from % Change Year Pick-ups Previous Year from 2000 2000 1,698,444
2001 1,364,998 -19.6 -19.6
2002 1,154,578 -15.4 -32.0
2003 995,491 -13.8 -41.4
2004 1,075,261 + 8.0 -36.7
2005 1,148,760 + 6.8 -32.4
2006 1,214,146 + 5.7 -28.5 Source: San Francisco International Airport, Landside Operations Health Plan . . . (Continued from p.4) make a direct contribution. Permit holders could be
assessed directly or through the companies they associate
with. The public could be asked to contribute through a
meter increase. And finally, the city itself is a potential
financing participant. San Francisco has enacted its own
health care plan, which is available to all residents. If
drivers who live in town are covered by our (better)
industry plan, the city could contribute some of the
money it would save into our plan. UTW has made an initial proposal that would divide
the costs of the plan more-or-less evenly among the five
participating groups. We believe a decent plan would
cost about $17 million, or about $350 for each
participating driver per month. Here is a breakdown of
the expected cost-per-participant under UTWs suggested
financing plan:
Drivers: $40-per-month premium plus co-pays.
Permit holders: $236 per month per medallion.
Cab companies: $236 per month per medallion.
Public: 20 cents per ride.
City: $300,000 per month.
The meetings are open to the public. At the moment,
besides the working group itself and commission staff,
most of the participants have been medallion holders. We
need working drivers to speak in their own behalf.
We meet the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesdays of the month at 2 p.m. Most meetings are held in room 201 of City Hall.
You can speak up for health care. Do it. SweetWire Communication is a new San Francisco Taxicab Driver Network committed to connecting the passenger directly to the driver. They need day drivers for their free beta-testing. Email: sweetwire@sbcglobal.net United to Win 7 Winter 2007 UTW/CWA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS DELTA PMI DENTAL PLAN: Dental care and treatment at network offices and clinics
throughout the Bay Area and California. First exam free, X-rays free. Low co-payments for all
dental procedures.
Rates: One person: $72.03 per quarter. Rates for two or more furnished upon request. CWA LOW-INTEREST MASTER CARD. PROVIDENT CENTRAL CREDIT UNION: Savings and checking accounts, low monthly
fees. ATM and Express phone services. Loans, investment services, car insurance, VISA cards. PREFERRED UNION PROTECTION and MUTUAL OF NEW YORK: Life insurance,
retirement funds, investment planning, mutual funds. CWA MORTGAGE and REAL ESTATE PROGRAM. CWA UNION PRIVILEGE: Union Driver and Traveler program, Hertz Rental Car program.
Union Plus Credit Card. Low interest loans up to $15,000. COUNSELING for WORKING PEOPLE: Through the INSTITUTE FOR LABOR AND
MENTAL HEALTH, individual counseling, child & family counseling, stress reduction
groups, drug and alcohol treatment. CONSULTATION and REFERRALS: Advice and consultation on workplace problems.
Representation before California State agencies. Workers Compensation and
Unemployment Insurance. Assistance with return of company deposits and assessments.
Referrals to attorneys.

Benefits are provided through United Taxicab Workers and Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. For information call (415) UNI-TAXI (864-8294). E-mail: utw8294@energy-net.org. Questions for Cab Drivers
Heres a test of how much you know about whos
been moving and shaking the taxi industry for the past
number of years: What cab drivers group was the moving force behind
the 1998 city ordinance that reduced gates and made
companies seek city approval to raise them? What group has been instrumental in the defeat of four
taxi ballot measures devised by cab companies and
permit holders to line their pockets at drivers expense? What group led the successful fight to stop the issuance
of 500 additional permits in 2001, saving the taxi
industry from certain collapse? What group convinced city commissions to vote against Yellows and Luxors corporate taxi permits,
leading to the return of 32 permits and their re-
issuance to permit applicants? What group sponsored the tough new state law
increasing fines for illegal limousine operations and
allowing the impoundment of lawbreakers vehicles? What group proposed and won initial approval of a cab
driver health plan that is now in the works? What group is at every Taxi Commission meeting,
fighting for drivers rights and working to protect and
promote their interests?




If your answer to all these questions is United Taxicab Workers, you scored 100%! Unite to Win!
United Taxicab Workers/CWA
2940 16th St. # 314
San Francisco, CA 94103

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED


Mail to:
UNITED TO WIN is published quarterly by United Taxicab Workers. UTW is sponsored by Communications Workers
of America, AFL-CIO. Mailing address: 2940 16th Street #314,
San Francisco, CA 94103. Phone: (415) 864-8294. Fax: 864-8295.
E-mail: utw8294@energy-net.org. Web site: www.utw.us. We
welcome the submission of letters, photos and articles to be
considered for publication. Printer: Accurate Printing, 760 Bryant
St., S.F. 94107. Editor: Mark Gruberg. Report Illegal Taxis The Taxi Detail maintains a data base on illegal cabs. If you witness
limousines or non-San Francisco cabs performing taxi services in San
Francisco, please report the following: 1) date and time; 2) location;
3) license plate; 4) if a limo, the TCP number; 4) if an out-of-town
cab, the company and cab number; 5) any phone number on the
vehicle. The 24-hour telephone number is: 553-1447

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