Dulles Taxi Drivers Confront Poor Working Conditions
by Kelli Olson

March 2001
Volume 38, No. 2

On February 15, 200 drivers from the Washington Flyer Taxi Driver Association of Dulles Airport were joined at the Capitol steps by labor rights advocates, human rights activists, members of religious communities, and others concerned about the poor working conditions faced by Dulles taxi drivers.

"Where do they get the nerve to say, 'we will take advantage of the work of these men, but we have no responsibility for their well-being'?" asked Kevin Lynch, Director of Organization for District 15 of the Machinist Union. The question targets the Airport Authority which hires an independent contractor to run the taxi system rather than hiring the drivers as airport employees.

Under this system, the drivers lack health benefits and workers' compensation. The drivers must also pay $148 per week to the contractor, whether or not they are able to drive that week. They are discouraged from organizing among themselves to ensure that the contractor's desire to provide more available taxis per passenger does not create a work shortage for the drivers. This type of work shortage is what creates the need for extended hours.

A new contractor took over the Dulles taxi service for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority last year after Congressional and public outrage about the working conditions of the drivers. According to Abdalla O. Nasir, president of the Washington Flyers Taxi Drivers Association, the change did not improve the situation. He reports, "the new boss refused to talk to the driver's organization or permit their leadership to continue working at the airport. The working conditions have gotten even worse under the new management."

The economic hardships of the situation are coupled with a serious safety concern. Toward the end of a 16 or 18-hour driving day, sleep deprivation becomes a definite danger. According to Nihad Awad, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, "in the past few weeks, one driver was killed on the road when he was working, and we believe that was due to sleep deprivation. Two days ago another cab driver died because he doesn't have medical insurance."

The interplay of dangerous conditions is summarized by Mr. Lynch, who explains, "the Airports Authority has set up a system which is totally irresponsible. The contractor is encouraged to hire on more and more drivers without any relationship to the available work. Taxi drivers find themselves on the road at all hours waiting for a few trips and too often falling asleep at the wheel. The Authority and the contractor take advantage of the hard work, but no one takes any responsibility at all for the wellbeing of the drivers. It's a classic rip-off of immigrant workers."

The workers were joined by a visible presence from the faith community. Rev. Noelle Deamico, of the United Church of Christ, addressed the crowd and demanded action; "I stand here today as a representative of a faith that is calling the airport authority to accountability for the way that they are enabling injustice to continue systematically."

To learn more or to get involved with the Washington Flyer Taxi Driver Association campaign, contact Mahdi Bray at the Muslim Public Affairs Council, (202) 879-6726.