New York Taxi Workers Alliance Affiliations
In 2011, the National Taxi Workers Alliance was born to crush the chains that bind hundreds of thousands of taxi workers across this nation. NTWA is the only national union dedicated to the struggle of taxi workers – a majority immigrant workforce of over 200,000. Founded in 2011, NTWA currently has affiliates in New York City, Philadelphia, Austin, Montgomery County and San Francisco and active organizing drives in several cities. In cities where drivers do not have collective bargaining rights, a democratic, driver-lead organization of taxi workers must garner dues-paying membership of 10% of the active driver workforce in order to affiliate with NTWA. NTWA provides organizing, membership development and campaign support to local drives, and is building several regional and state-wide networks. NTWA’s nation-wide campaign is to protect drivers’ full-time work and full-time pay under vicious attack by the so-called gig economy, making even more precarious and insecure a job riddled with exploitation. Through mass mobilizations, building allies, and multi-tactical campaigns, NTWA seeks to rebuild a taxi industry progressive in its commitment to worker rights, consumer protections, and contributions to local transportation systems. NTWA is the 57th affiliate of the AFL-CIO, the first-one of entirely independent contractors, and an affiliate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation. NTWA’s President currently serves on the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO.
Historic Affiliations
AFL-CIO Executive Council grants a permanent charter to NYTWA.
On February 23rd, 2015, the AFL-CIO Executive Council voted to grant a permanent charter to the National Taxi Workers Alliance. As the 57th national union of the AFL-CIO, we are the first non-traditional workforce (non-employees) to be granted membership in over 60 years, and the first one in the history of independent contractors. It will mean greater power, influence and resources for the fight for justice, rights, respect and dignity for tens of thousands of taxi drivers.
The Executive Council first voted to grant NTWA an Organizing Committee charter in August 2011. The official charter was authorized by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on October 20th 2011, during a signing ceremony in Washington, D.C.
About the AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization, also known as the AFL-CIO, is the single largest labor federation in the U.S., with a combined membership of over 13 million workers. The AFL-CIO fights for better working conditions, decent wages, as well as fair treatment, safety, and respect on the job. They also operate the largest training network for workers outside of the U.S. military. Occupying an independent voice in politics as a strong advocate for worker rights, the AFL-CIO essentially has the power to make or break political campaigns. Since the 1950’s, the Federation has prevailed to become a mighty institution with lawyers, political lobbyists, public relations, specialists, benefits providers, educators, and an army of organizers.
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Affiliates NTWA
On October 20th 2011, following our official charter ceremony with the AFL-CIO, we headed down for the Board Meeting of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), being held at the AFL-CIO headquarters. After our greeting of solidarity to our transit brothers and sisters who labor by land or by sea or by air, ITF General Secretary, David Cockroft, made a motion to grant NTWA affiliation. The motion passed unanimously – the fastest vote in ITF history. Leaders from all over the world stood and cheered taxi workers and pledged their support in our fight for justice. GS Cockroft made a rousing speech, calling for an end to the sweatshop conditions in the taxi industry.
About the ITF
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is a global federation of transport workers' trade unions, founded in 1896. ITF has a combined membership of 708 unions, representing the interests of close to 5 million workers in the industries of ground, air, and waterway transportation. With offices across the world (Amman, Brussels, Guyana, Moscow, Nairobi, New Delhi, Ouagadougou, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo) and a headquarters in London, the ITF is capable of organizing international solidarity actions that range from protest messages, demonstrations, political pressure, and even strikes/boycotts.
On the Creation of the National Taxi Workers Alliance
"The taxi bosses have had a national trade association since 1917 – just ten years after the gasoline-powered taxicab came to the U.S. To this day, they hold lavish annual conventions and trade shows and, in their first order of business, they meet with our regulators. Money meets politics meets labor exploitation. In 2011, the National Taxi Workers Alliance was born to crush the chains that bind hundreds of thousands of taxi workers across this nation. The bosses and regulators have their associations, their legacies, their eras. This is all ours.” Bhairavi Desai, 2011