Victory for Workers Rights in Prince George’s County
July 13, 2010
Aurora Vasquez 202/728-9557 or 571/259-3858
Sabrina E. Williams 202/728-9557 or 305/904-3960
From Advancement Project Regarding
CB-36-2010
Today, after more than three years of struggle, the County Council of Prince George’s County passed CB-36-2010 providing a much needed overhaul of the county’s taxicab industry. The law which will have its greatest impact on the livelihood of drivers, who are predominantly immigrants from Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean, is a joint victory for the Prince George’s County Taxi Workers Alliance. Advancement Project is extremely pleased to have aided Prince Georges’ county drivers in the reformation of the taxicab industry promoting an end to unfair worker conditions and strengthening a movement toward a new phase of economic prosperity and stability within a sustainable and well-rounded industry.
In particular, the legislation will:
- Create economic opportunity for individual cab drivers by making some of the county’s taxicab operating certificates available to them;
- Increase transparency by requiring cab companies to file copies of their taxicab leasing contracts and fee structure with the county;
- Promote competition and encourage the provision of quality service by ensuring no single company can control the majority of the county’s medallions;
- Facilitate rider protections by requiring that all cabs have available a summary of their insurance information; and
- Requires that all cab companies remain in good standing with the state of Maryland as a prerequisite to renewing their medallions.
Prior to the new legislation the Prince George’s County taxicab industry was ruled by a handful of companies who owned and controlled not only the majority of the taxicab companies, but also the county’s dispatch service.
Filed under Immigrant Justice, Maryland
