30th April 2008 - May Day eve -
Hundred of taxi-drivers at 22 hour sit-down protest,
intersection of Flinders & Swanston Streets Melbourne.
DIRECT ACTION GETS THE GOODS
500 + taxi-drivers occupied the city intersection of Flinders & Swanston Street for 22 hours.
They collectively left their taxis & sit down.
Soon they're joined by other low paid "unorganised" wage slaves in
their uprising following the stabbing and near death of a fellow worker.
Many are international students from India who earn $8 an hour working 12 hour shifts.
Half their demands were met, safety screens are installed for drivers
who want them, pre-payment of fares to become mandatory at night,
police to take seriously reports of bashings and robberies & the
Government agreed to waive parking fines incurred by the protesting
wage slaves.
POLITICIAN's MIRROR MAZE- "we'll look into it"
In 2006 a shorter time protest was called off by politicians promises.
Disruption of the International airport at Tullamarine was ended before the Big Bosses lost $ alas.
Capo owners and politicians do not pick up pissed racists at 2am; they
hire those desperate enough to sell their time and energy for 12 hours
of aggravation as wage slaves for that.
For two grinding years the pleas and complaints through the proper channels were ignored.
Finally there has been an uprising
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
The State Government will pay 50% of the cost of introducing safety screens, with the balance to be paid by taxi operators.
Capitalist racket means privatisation of profits and public tax payers incur any losses.
For years the industry has been divided and ruled by investors in the $500,000 licenses to run the 3,800 taxis
Past Liberal and present Labor Governments have served the rich, the owners not their wage slaves.
The Transport Workers Union and Taxi-Drivers Association compete in demarcation disputes.
IN UNITY IS STRENGTH
A cooperative of drivers so they can work 8 hour shifts or less and
enjoy better conditions could be funded with superannuation $ from
transport workers.
An industrial union combining chauffers & taxi-drivers,
bicycle and motor bike couriers, truckies, bus, train & tram
drivers, airport & shipping would be able to take on the employers
and bring industrial democracy at last.
