Looking for fare hike, some Chicago cabbies to strike Monday morning

Looking for fare hike, some Chicago cabbies to strike Monday morning

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

A group of Chicago taxi drivers wants fellow cabbies to strike for five hours Monday morning from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. They’re upset over some new regulations and because they haven’t had a fare increase in years.

Past cab strikes haven’t had all that much success, with lots of drivers driving anyway. But Fayez Khozindar says frustration has grown.

“If they’re considered the ambassadors for the city then they should be treated better so they have a livable wage,” said Khozindar, wo chairs the United Taxidrivers Community Council.

His group will try to keep cabbies off the roads every Monday morning until Mayor Rahm Emanuel shows a willingness to raise fares.

But Emanuel last week said he wants to see what happens with new taxi rules going into effect this week.

“I’m not talking about anything as it relates to fares until we are clear that the quality of the ride, the standards are all raised,” Emanuel said.

Cab drivers haven’t had a fare hike in seven years, though there was a fuel surcharge in place. That surcharge is now part of the standard flag pull, totaling $3.25 at the start of every ride.