Hundreds of Cabbies from NY, PA, VA, & MD to Motorcade to DC Calling for People's Stimulus

As the clock runs out on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, drivers Say: "We are essential not expendable." After returning from DC, NYC Drivers will continue protest at Gracie Mansion.

Unemployment is about to expire for 12 million workers and 30 million are facing evictions. Meanwhile, the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the United States could see 450,000 deaths from COVID by February. Hundreds of drivers from across the Mid-Atlantic will join the Caravan to DC on Thursday to call for immediate action to stop this crisis.

Washington, DC- On Thursday, December 10, NYTWA yellow cab drivers will caravan from City Hall to Washington, DC, joining up with drivers from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland along the way, calling for a people's stimulus as the economic crisis from the COVID pandemic continues to escalate.

Millions of workers are unemployed and facing a financial cliff as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is about to expire for 12 million workers. Thirty million are facing evictions. Six out of ten workers are earning less now than before the pandemic.

Low-wage workers have lost jobs and wages eight times more than high earners. Most cab drivers have been getting just $182/week from PUA and that benefit is about to expire. Meanwhile, the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the United States could see 450,000 deaths from COVID by February.

Drivers are taking action to demand a people's stimulus now.

What: Hundreds of Cabbies from NY, PA, MD, & VA Caravan to DC for People's Stimulus + Evening Protest at Gracie Mansion

When: Thursday, December 10, 2020

Cabbie demands for a People's Stimulus include:

  • Extend Unemployment & Reinstate $600 Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

  • Stimulus Checks

  • Rent and Mortgage Assistance & Moratorium on Evictions & Foreclosures

  • Funds for Taxi Industry Recovery, including funds to support medallion debt forgiveness & tax exemption on forgiven debt

  • Free Vaccine for ALL!

  • Support for ALL regardless of immigration status!

  • No liability shield for corporations

NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai said: "Millions of workers are hurting and hungry and can't afford to wait one more day for Congress to take action. Drivers are among the hardest hit Americans and like most of the country, are sick, tired and terrified of getting such little help to survive and are now under threat of even losing that much. This is not a time for talk. It's a time for direct action. So many lives depend on it. Drivers need the stimulus to survive today, and our owner-driver members need debt forgiveness to face tomorrow."

New York Taxi Workers Alliance