NEW YORK (AFP) — New York taxi drivers called off a strike Monday that few drivers appeared to have joined in protest at installation of satellite navigation systems and allowing credit cards for payment.
Despite the planned strike, there were still plenty of cabs visible in Manhattan. The city has 13,000 licensed cabs and 44,000 licensed cab operators, many of whom work for private companies.
Bhairavi Desai, the head of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance which represents about 8,000 of the city's professional drivers, said he was "proud of the drivers who went out on strike," estimating it had been about 60 percent. However the city estimated the number at five percent.
"We need to regroup given that it was not the majority that we have looked for," Desai added. "We also realize that drivers are in such economic trouble so it's very difficult for them."
Taxi Workers Alliance had already called a strike September 5-6. About 30 percent of drivers stayed home that day.
Drivers were protesting plans put in motion by Mayor Michael Bloomberg under which all drivers must equip their cars with global satellite positioning systems and machines to take credit cards, partially at their own cost.
The satellite system includes a monitor for passengers to follow their route, check news and weather, view advertisements, and pay their fare by bank card.
According to taxi drivers' groups, the devices cost more than 5,000 dollars to install and will inform the commission where they are, how many trips they have taken and how much they took in fares.
During last month's two-stay strike, some drivers who worked said they made three times their normal day's pay, which sent a lot of drivers back onto the streets for the second day.
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