San Jose Airport Official Says Strike by Cabbies Causes Few Delays

Posted on Thu, Nov. 13, 2003

San Jose Airport Official Says Strike by Cabbies Causes Few Delays
San Jose Mercury News, CA

Dozens of United Cab drivers staged a strike at Mineta San Jose
International Airport, refusing to pick up fares Thursday, but the walkout
apparently had little effect on the travel public.

``There have been a few people who've waited over five minutes'' for a
cab, said Robert Lockhart, an airport operations manager. ``But it's been
very limited. It's minimal because, I think, airport traffic volume is not
as big as the rest of the week.''

The walkout by 56 of the more than 80 United Cab drivers was precipitated
by the suspension of a popular longtime driver, Kirpaul Basati.

Basati's fellow drivers, who organized the walkout, are angry with United
Cab for forcing him off the job before an investigation into alleged
wrongdoing was completed.

``We will go on'' with the walkout, said fellow driver Pankaj Kumar
``until Kirpaul Basati is back to work.''

Basati and the drivers say his suspension was political payback for his
activities to reform the cab permit system, which United Cab officials
deny. Basati said he was never given a reason or written notice for his
suspension, which is in effect until the investigation is completed.

Basati is an outspoken advocate of the medallion system, which would allow
drivers to obtain their own permits. Permits are now obtained by cab
companies, which distribute them to drivers.

United Cab general manager Margee Jansen said Basati was suspended because
he allegedly tried to replace his taxi with a vehicle that the company had
not authorized.

The drivers have several demands, including cleaner and better bathrooms
and the elimination of a requirement that old taxis be replaced with
either vans or vehicles that burn natural gas.

Both sides were in negotiations to end the stalemate. The city manager's
office was acting as an intermediary Thursday. Both sides were hoping for
a resolution, said Tony Alexander, of the United Food and Commercial
Workers Local 428, which represents the drivers.

About a dozen drivers who did not join the strike were picking up
passengers. ``A lot of them do want to work but they're afraid,'' Jansen
said.

Seyoum Asrat, a leader for the cabbies' union, said no driver who wanted
to work had been threatened by the striking members.

While grappling with the walkout, United Cab was under pressure to avoid
penalties.

United Cab faces a fine of $50 for each time a passenger waits more than
five minutes for a taxi at Terminal C. Under its airport contract, United
Cab is the only taxi company authorized to serve Terminal C. Yellow Cab
has an agreement with the airport to serve Terminal A.

If Yellow Cabs were enlisted to take passengers from Terminal C, United
Cab could be fined as much as another $200. About five passengers had to
be picked up by Yellow Cab taxis at Terminal C as of 4 p.m. Thursday,
airport officials said.

In 2001, United Cab paid $16,000 in penalties after a one-day walkout of
drivers at both terminals after the Thanksgiving weekend.

Terminal C generates more than 2,700 cab pickups a week, airport officials
said.



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