Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Taxis on Strip go idle in protest of Uber

UBER protest by taxi union

L.E. Baskow

Taxi cab drivers gather on the Strip in front of Caesars Palace to protest Uber, the competing ride sharing program trying to break into the Las Vegas market on Friday, May 29, 2015.

Updated Friday, May 29, 2015 | 5:45 p.m.

Taxi Cab Drivers Protest Uber

Taxi cab drivers gather on the Strip in front of Caesars Palace to protest Uber, the competing ride sharing program trying to break into the Las Vegas market on Friday, May 29, 2015. Launch slideshow »

Dozens of taxi drivers parked their cabs and instead took to the Las Vegas Strip sidewalk today to protest the arrival of Uber and the disastrous effect drivers said it would have on their livelihoods.

The demonstration started at 2 p.m. on a day when the temperature peaked at 99 degrees, but tourists looking to catch a ride to avoid the heat weren't impacted as the work stoppage did little to disrupt the supply of available cabs.

Taxi lines at casinos were short for patrons and there were even cabs from Yellow Checker Star, whose employees were participating in the protest, queued to pick up passengers.

The protest was organized by drivers from the Industrial, Technical and Professional Employees Union Local 4873 and took place on a sidewalk in front of Caesars Palace for about two hours. Most drivers parked their vehicles at a nearby union office and then bussed to the site. The protest was called off an hour early due to the heat.

Tourist reactions

At the Paris and Bally’s, a steady flow of taxis streamed in and out of the front entrances.

Tourists had no trouble getting rides despite the anti-Uber protest across the street.

Michael Dixon, who is visiting Las Vegas to celebrate his sister’s 21st birthday, said many of his friends use Uber. He said he wouldn't hesitate to use the app.

Seth Holehouse, a business owner in town for the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show, said he’s a big fan of Uber mostly because it is far more modernized than taxi services.

“The taxi industry hasn’t changed,” Holehouse said. “With the Uber app, you can see the photo of the driver and rate them.”

He added that not only does he like the diversity of the employee pool, he also enjoys the app’s accessibility.

“I can use it in Miami and also in Hong Kong,” Holehouse said. “It has a big global aspect to it.”

— Julie Ann Formoso

Although many drivers who participated were on the clock and supposed to be on the roads, they won't be subject to discipline from Yellow Checker Star because the protest is protected as a union-related activity.

"We don't condone the demonstration ... but they're allowed to do it," Yellow Checker Star Chief Operating Officer Bill Shranko said. "I think it's an issue where drivers are fed up."

Whether to allow Uber in Nevada and how to regulate the popular ridesharing company has been one of the most heavily-lobbied issue at the Legislature this year.

This week, the Legislature approved a pair of bills that allow transportation network companies like Uber, which connect drivers and riders through a smartphone app, to operate in Nevada.

The bills, which still await the signature of Gov. Brian Sandoval, would create new regulations for the ride-hailing companies, including background checks and insurance requirements that would be enforced by the Nevada Transportation Authority.

With Uber's arrival imminent, taxicab drivers today said they were speaking out to let the community know about the damage they think Uber will do.

"I believe it's going to directly impact the safety of Las Vegas streets," said Mike Kilgo, a Las Vegas cab driver for 15 years.

Kilgo said that adding potentially thousands of new Uber drivers onto Las Vegas streets will cut into earnings for cab drivers and could lead to a competitive environment for fares that encourages reckless driving. It's also unclear where Uber drivers would pick up riders on the Strip, whether it's in a casino taxi line, a parking garage or on the street.

"Our income is going to drop. The pie isn't getting any bigger," said Kilgo, who makes about $32,000 a year working five 12-hour shifts per week. "It's going to cause confusion and chaos."

Others at the protest also criticized the bills for not subjecting Uber to the more-extensive background checking, drug testing and training programs cab drivers must adhere to.

"Uber drives people from point A to point B for hire," said Yellow Checker Star driver and union shop steward Dustin Qualls. "If they want to come out here and work, they should follow the same rules."

If the bills are signed by Sandoval, Uber and other ridesharing competitors could begin operating in Las Vegas later this summer once they go through a licensing process with the Nevada Transportation Authority.

Sun reporter Julie Ann Formoso contributed to this report.

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