If you were looking for a cab on Tuesday October 9^th, the best place to find one was at Florian Hall in Dorchester. That is where more than 500 cabbies showed up to make their voices heard at work by joining the Boston Area Taxi Drivers Association. Since Tuesday, more than 100 drivers have signed membership cards at the BTDA office, making the Association close to 700 strong with more cabbies joining each day. Boston taxi drivers have been expressing their concerns about problems on the job for a long time, and now they have a formal, united voice to do so.

The Boston Area Taxi Drivers Association is a chartered organization of the United Steelworkers Union, and has the full support of the Greater Boston Central Labor Council and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. The drivers, who are considered independent contractors and not employees, cannot join a union and collectively bargain under the National Labor Relations Act, but the dues paid by members of the Association will finance legal representation, and union representation in political and legislative matters. The USW and BTDA have been working on behalf of drivers since July while building up to the big sign-up day, dealing with the city Hackney unit and holding a rally in August at the Tremont House Courtyard Marriott to protest the practice of "kickbacks"-money taken by hotel doormen to steer guests toward limousines rather than taxis.

Some of the most common workplace concerns expressed by drivers in a survey administered by the USW were meter rate increases needed to keep up with the rising costs of gas and tolls, medallion leasing fees and policies, unreasonable removal of licenses or medallions without just cause, and the long hours worked just to make a living. Drivers report that the average Boston taxi driver who doesn't own a medallion has to make $10 an hour just to break even, covering the $7 to lease a cab and $3 for gas. This forces drivers to work long hours-most work six 12-hour shifts a week. Almost 1,500 drivers responded to this survey, with almost all expressing interest in joining the BTDA.

Taxi drivers showing up at Florian Hall on Tuesday witnessed an impressive show of solidarity from both the Labor and political communities. Rows of cabs filled the parking lot, with a total of 562 cabbies filtering in throughout the day. Boston City Council President Maureen Feeney stopped in to express her support, along with Councilors Michael Flaherty and Stephen Murphy, and State Senator Anthony Petruccelli. Senator Steven Tolman and Representative Martin Walsh both phoned in their support for the drivers. The focus is now on Mayor Thomas Menino, who has yet to state that taxi drivers have a right to representation and express his support for the Boston Taxi Drivers Association.

Thanks to the drivers and their many supporters, Tuesday was a landmark day for Boston cabbies, giving them a voice on the job and solidarity on the road.