The head of a Chicago taxi driver advocacy group says about 3,500 of the city's 15,000 drivers stayed home from work on Sunday in a strike for increased fares.
Chairman Fayez Khozindar (khoh ZIN' dar) of United Taxidrivers Community Council says drivers want a 16 percent fare increase by Jan. 1, and they want fares to be revised every two years.
Other Chicago taxi groups opposed the strike, saying they don't want to anger customers in a bad economy. The striking taxi drivers say they want to send a message to the city and are not trying to inconvenience riders.
Khozindar says taxi drivers work 12-hour days and make less than minimum wage. He says they are considering another strike in the near future.
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Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chairman Fayez Khozindar (khoh ZIN' dar) of United Taxidrivers Community Council says drivers want a 16 percent fare increase by Jan. 1, and they want fares to be revised every two years.
Other Chicago taxi groups opposed the strike, saying they don't want to anger customers in a bad economy. The striking taxi drivers say they want to send a message to the city and are not trying to inconvenience riders.
Khozindar says taxi drivers work 12-hour days and make less than minimum wage. He says they are considering another strike in the near future.
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Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
