CABBIES CONSIDER STRIKE VOTE




By JORDAN H. GREEN

  Taxi drivers at one of the city's largest cab
companies have voted to go on strike, if the comp-
any doesn't meet the union's demands.
  A vote by the 360 cabbies from Co-Op Cabs ended
in a 70 per cent majority strike call.
  The taxi drivers -- represented by the United
Steelworkers' local 1688 -- could be out on the
picket lines at a moment's notice, as negotiations
have broken down.
  The two issues causing the ruckus are pay and job
security.
  Taxi license plates in the city between $10,000 and
$15,000 per year for use with Co-Op Cabs and can be
revoked by the company with only a week's notice, 
according to Nabil Charbel, who's been driving for 
Co-Op since 1974.
  "I know a lot of people say job security doesn't
mean much anymore, but in our industry we pay for
our own jobs," said Charbel. "We (often) pay for
our cars and a plate."
  The union, which has over 4,000 members across
Canada and also represents Diamond and Metro cab
drivers, says the average Toronto driver's take-home
pay is between $10,000 to $12,000 per year.
  To make that kind of money you have to work 12 hours
a day, six days a week," said Charbel. "People think
we make good money, all they care about is whether 
they get a nice driver and a clean cab. They don't 
consider what it costs to keep that cab."
  The union is also upset with the rates Co-Op Cabs
charges its drivers for the Cop-Op name.
  "The company is asking for a five per cent increase
on their shift rates, which translates into ten per cent
less for us," said Charbel.
  Officials at Co-Op Cabs were keeping a low profile 
pending any action by the union.
  "The company isn't in a position to comment about the
collective agreement at the moment," said Co-Op Cab 
spokesperson Richard Huges. "We feel we've got to deal
with the union one-on-one, instead of through the media."
  If a strike were to occur -- making it the second strike
since 1994 -- it would hit the company at the busiest time
of the year.
  "This is the busiest season," said Charbel. "It's winter
and people do take taxis, in summertime they usually walk
or take the bus."