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<v Speaker 1>It's night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBZ Constans.

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<v Speaker 2>Radio, delighted to be joined by Roxanna Rivera. Roxanna Rivera

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<v Speaker 2>works as a union organizer. She is with the SEIU,

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<v Speaker 2>which I think most of us are familiar with, and

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<v Speaker 2>she is one of those who is very much in

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<v Speaker 2>favor of ballot Question three, which would allow ride share

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<v Speaker 2>drivers essentially, I mean, the two big ones are Uber

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<v Speaker 2>and Lyft to unionize.

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<v Speaker 3>So welcome to night Side, Roxanna. How are you tonight right?

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<v Speaker 4>Thank you for having me in the cud.

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<v Speaker 2>Are you on a speakerphone or a headset or something

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<v Speaker 2>or what sort of phone are you on?

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 4>Can you hear me much better?

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<v Speaker 2>Now?

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<v Speaker 3>What did you do educate me? What did you do?

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<v Speaker 4>Just stop putting it by my ear? Yes, thank you.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh that's very and get that mouthpiece by your mouth

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<v Speaker 2>so that we can hear you very clearly.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah. I didn't mean to embarrass you there.

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<v Speaker 2>But when I'm here and you know a connection that

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<v Speaker 2>that needs to be better for my audience. I want

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<v Speaker 2>you to be able to to tell your story and

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<v Speaker 2>also for people to understand what you say. So let's uh,

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<v Speaker 2>let's talk us. Let's start with the story. So you

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<v Speaker 2>would like your organization. Uh would love to see right

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<v Speaker 2>share drivers. Uh, that's people that's that transport persons from

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<v Speaker 2>point A to point B. So it's Uber Lift. Are

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<v Speaker 2>there any other other ride shaer drivers you know who

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<v Speaker 2>transport people who would be included in this assuming this

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<v Speaker 2>this question.

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<v Speaker 4>Passes no right now. It only has to do with

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<v Speaker 4>the transportation network drivers that work for companies like Uber

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<v Speaker 4>and lyft?

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, are there just for curiosity? Are there other small

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<v Speaker 2>I'm unfamiliar? Are there other smaller companies out there that

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<v Speaker 2>that we don't think about the you know that that

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<v Speaker 2>employ a lot fewer drivers that that are out there competing?

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<v Speaker 3>Or is Uber and I and lifted?

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<v Speaker 2>They pretty much have the the market of transporting people

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<v Speaker 2>all to themselves.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, in terms of ride share.

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<v Speaker 4>Drivers, there's no other company at this point that would

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<v Speaker 4>be covered under this.

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<v Speaker 3>That's fine.

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<v Speaker 2>And again we're not talking about taxi cab drivers. We're

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<v Speaker 2>talking about people who drive who are now currently what's

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<v Speaker 2>called independent contractors. Now, I had someone on last night,

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<v Speaker 2>as I mentioned to you earlier today, a woman who

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<v Speaker 2>is a union advocate, but she apparently feels, which is

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<v Speaker 2>her right, that the piece of the initiative petition should

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<v Speaker 2>cover more than just ride share drivers. And when I

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<v Speaker 2>use the word ride share, I assume what I'm talking

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<v Speaker 2>about is people who are calling Uber and Lift to

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<v Speaker 2>take them or their you know, their family or whomever

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<v Speaker 2>from point A to point B. You're you're transporting people,

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<v Speaker 2>not pizzas and sub sandwiches.

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<v Speaker 3>And that's the difference, right, Yes.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, give me a little amplification of that. Rucks in

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<v Speaker 2>and so I don't want to make an assumption here,

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<v Speaker 2>but what she was saying last night was that this

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<v Speaker 2>legislation or this initiative petition would not cover people who

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<v Speaker 2>are out kind of doing the same thing. They're they're

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<v Speaker 2>picking up someone's chicken dinner order or picking up their pizza.

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<v Speaker 2>And she said that that's why they're opposed to this,

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<v Speaker 2>because it doesn't include everyone who is out there driving.

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<v Speaker 2>And I know you want to respond to that. So

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<v Speaker 2>that's why I'm kind of tee up the question for

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<v Speaker 2>you to respond to it.

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<v Speaker 4>Go ahead, thank you, Yes, no, Yes, those are drivers

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<v Speaker 4>that do delivery, right, and so our balid initiative, the

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<v Speaker 4>Yes on three, only covers those that are transporting supporting

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<v Speaker 4>people and for a ballot initiative we have. We have

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<v Speaker 4>to go with a single issue, and UH transportation is

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<v Speaker 4>seen delivered different as delivery, and so we had to

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<v Speaker 4>focus on the set of workers that are covered under

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<v Speaker 4>transportation and so that's you know, we believe this is

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<v Speaker 4>a start. We obviously fully support having additional UH workers

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<v Speaker 4>that work for app companies be able to have a

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<v Speaker 4>pathway to a union, but we believe this is start

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<v Speaker 4>with the with the yes on three ballot initiative UH.

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<v Speaker 4>And we know that sometimes it takes one set of

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<v Speaker 4>workers to pave the way for other workers. That's how

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<v Speaker 4>it's been for for our union in our experience, as

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<v Speaker 4>we bought for more workers being able to improve their

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<v Speaker 4>lives through a union.

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<v Speaker 2>So what you're saying to me, if I'm understanding what

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<v Speaker 2>you're saying to me, is that it's not inconceivable that

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<v Speaker 2>somewhere down the line you might try to incorporate people

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<v Speaker 2>who are delivery drivers who are not transporting people but

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<v Speaker 2>also are transporting you know, food or important mail or

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<v Speaker 2>letters or whatever, you know, would not be maybe maybe

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<v Speaker 2>you want to grow the union. So if the commonality

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<v Speaker 2>was people who are driving their car to transport something,

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<v Speaker 2>whether it's a person.

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<v Speaker 3>Or an item.

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<v Speaker 2>Why not go a year from now, two years from now,

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<v Speaker 2>three years from now, bringing them under the umbrella of

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<v Speaker 2>the union, is what I'm hearing you.

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<v Speaker 4>Say, right, Yes, not only here in Massachusetts among other drivers,

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<v Speaker 4>but actually ride share drivers in other states are watching

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<v Speaker 4>what happens here on number firs day. So ride share

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<v Speaker 4>drivers from Minnesota, in California and Yellow Noise, they're watching

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<v Speaker 4>closely because they are also want to do something similar

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<v Speaker 4>in their states based on uh, you know, uh, the

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<v Speaker 4>outcome of the elections here.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, are there are there any states in the United

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<v Speaker 2>States right now where ride share drivers.

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<v Speaker 3>Have been able to form a union?

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<v Speaker 2>Or would this be the first union of ride share

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<v Speaker 2>drivers that would be formed or permitted to be formed

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<v Speaker 2>more specifically by this ballot.

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<v Speaker 4>Question, Yeah, this would Massachusetts would be first, so it

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<v Speaker 4>would be historic. And that's why other states are watching

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<v Speaker 4>what happens here because unfortunately, these rightshre drivers are not

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<v Speaker 4>covered under federal laws, so they're not they don't have

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<v Speaker 4>the ability to organize, like what is what is a

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<v Speaker 4>right that's guaranteed to almost all Massachusetts workers. These workers

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<v Speaker 4>don't have. So that's why we're asking the state to

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<v Speaker 4>create that law.

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<v Speaker 2>And so my understanding understanding, and if I'm wrong, feel

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<v Speaker 2>free to correct, because I'm sure you know this issue

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<v Speaker 2>better than I do. But my understand is that the

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<v Speaker 2>reason that you had to do the hard work of

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<v Speaker 2>getting an issue on the ballot, you had to gather

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<v Speaker 2>signatures and all of that, or certain amounts of signatures

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<v Speaker 2>over a certain period of time, is that the legislature

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<v Speaker 2>did not act. You asked the legislature in Massachusetts of

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<v Speaker 2>all places, to give rights your drivers, the right to unionize,

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<v Speaker 2>and it went nowhere.

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<v Speaker 3>What happened.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, so we know from the start two years ago

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<v Speaker 4>we started really organizing right here drivers in the state

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<v Speaker 4>of Massachusetts, and we knew at the very beginning that

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<v Speaker 4>only you know, even though there's thousands of proposed legislative built,

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<v Speaker 4>only a handful pass each year. And so as we

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<v Speaker 4>did our legislative efforts and had drivers actually going to

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<v Speaker 4>the state House, going to hearings, going to meet with

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<v Speaker 4>legislators to talk about, you know, the urgency in regards

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<v Speaker 4>to them begin take care of the families, we also

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<v Speaker 4>also started an effort to uh to move forward the

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<v Speaker 4>ballot and is shud We said, one way or another,

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<v Speaker 4>you know, uh, these workers are hurting now and they

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<v Speaker 4>can't wait any longer.

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<v Speaker 2>And so no, I get that, But why, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>are you letting the legislative look the legislative leadership roxy

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<v Speaker 2>in And I can tell you it worked for many

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<v Speaker 2>years up there, covering the legislature whatever they.

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<v Speaker 3>Want to get in front of the full House of Representatives,

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<v Speaker 3>in front of the state Senate. You know, they get

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<v Speaker 3>it there.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, they have an arcane system in which bills get

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<v Speaker 2>referred to committee.

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<v Speaker 3>And that's where they go to die.

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<v Speaker 2>What I don't understand is why an overwhelmingly democratic legislature,

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<v Speaker 2>which I think there's a lot of progressive members up

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<v Speaker 2>there who would want to have ride share drivers receive

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<v Speaker 2>union protection, which they have a right, in my opinion,

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<v Speaker 2>to receive. I'm stunned that the legislature wouldn't do this

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<v Speaker 2>for you.

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<v Speaker 3>I really mean it.

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<v Speaker 2>They're making you accomplish it the hard way, which seems

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<v Speaker 2>to me to be unfair.

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<v Speaker 4>There's a lot of priorities at the State House, a

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<v Speaker 4>lot of good issues that don't don't.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, you're buying what they're telling you. Okay, that's fine,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't need to You're you are basically telling me

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<v Speaker 2>answering my question the same way, and you're letting them

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<v Speaker 2>off the hook.

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<v Speaker 3>But that's okay as far as I'm concerned.

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<v Speaker 2>They they should have done it for you in my opinion,

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<v Speaker 2>And you don't have to say that.

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<v Speaker 3>If you want to say they're going to take a break,

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<v Speaker 3>we'll get some more phone calls. Feel free.

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<v Speaker 2>If you are a ride share driver out there and

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<v Speaker 2>you have an opinion on question three, I think it

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<v Speaker 2>should pass. I think the more I look at it,

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<v Speaker 2>it seems to me it's a question of fairness to

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<v Speaker 2>people who are trying to either make a living or

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<v Speaker 2>add to their living. They use they do this as

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<v Speaker 2>a second job or as a job that's that's a

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<v Speaker 2>part time job. I still think they should have protections

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<v Speaker 2>of a union. Six one, seven, two, five, four, ten

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<v Speaker 2>thirty six one seven, nine three one ten thirty, triple

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<v Speaker 2>eight nine to nine, ten thirty. We're coming right back

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<v Speaker 2>on night Side.

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<v Speaker 1>Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World

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<v Speaker 1>night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.

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<v Speaker 2>My guess is Roxanne Rivera. She's co chair of the

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<v Speaker 2>Yes on three coalition and she works for SEIU Service

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<v Speaker 2>Employees International Union SCIU. I think most of us are

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<v Speaker 2>familiar with that. Roxanne, let me ask you. Let's assume

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<v Speaker 2>this passes, okay, is what will it mean to the drivers?

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<v Speaker 2>What are the advantages that drivers will receive if this passes?

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<v Speaker 4>So the reality for these drivers is that eighty percent

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<v Speaker 4>of all the trips are actually done by full time drivers.

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<v Speaker 4>So that means that this is the primary source of income.

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<v Speaker 4>And many have sied, and many of them have had

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<v Speaker 4>found themselves having to work up to seventy hours a week.

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<v Speaker 6>And so.

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<v Speaker 4>Because the recent settlement from the AG, it with a

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<v Speaker 4>start in setting basic standards, but it didn't address the reality,

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<v Speaker 4>the full reality faced by these drivers and they it

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<v Speaker 4>didn't account for all the hours that they work, you know,

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<v Speaker 4>the wait time between rides. It didn't account for all that.

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<v Speaker 2>What I'm really trying to figure out here because I

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<v Speaker 2>feel like you're reading some talking points to me, and

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<v Speaker 2>I'd prefer you to just talk to me. Let's assume

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<v Speaker 2>I'm a driver and you're trying to convince me to

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<v Speaker 2>vote yes on this. What will be the benefit for

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<v Speaker 2>the drivers? I know this and benefits just tell me

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<v Speaker 2>what they are, because I think it's important for people

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<v Speaker 2>to understand that talk to me, talk to.

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<v Speaker 3>Me, don't read.

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<v Speaker 4>The drivers will be able to have to be able

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<v Speaker 4>to talk to the companies and actually have a voice

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<v Speaker 4>with the companies to talk around the issues they face

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<v Speaker 4>daily because literally they are struggling, they are hurting, they

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<v Speaker 4>don't have they don't make enough, you know, to bring

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<v Speaker 4>food at the table to make sure that they're not

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<v Speaker 4>facing eviction. These workers on the edge, they work paycheck

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<v Speaker 4>to paycheck, and they have invested a lot of their

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<v Speaker 4>own resources to even be able to start up working

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<v Speaker 4>for these app companies, and so they have a lot invested,

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<v Speaker 4>and yet they have a lot of insecurity because there's

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<v Speaker 4>a lot of issues working aside from the low pay

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<v Speaker 4>and the fact that these app companies have taken a

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<v Speaker 4>bigger share of the rights. As each year has passed

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<v Speaker 4>that they've been here in Massachusetts, drivers have been making

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<v Speaker 4>less and less and they feel very unprotected.

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<v Speaker 2>Because so let's asserve that a driver again, I think

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<v Speaker 2>you're giving me. I think the simple answer to be

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<v Speaker 2>honest with you, and a great selling point is for

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<v Speaker 2>the driver's perspective in unity their strength. If you're an

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<v Speaker 2>individual driver and you try to have a disagreement with

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<v Speaker 2>the owner of the company or the head whoever owns

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<v Speaker 2>uber or whatever. They're going to say, Hey, if you

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<v Speaker 2>don't want to drive for us, no problem. But if

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<v Speaker 2>they're united with a union, that's going to benefit all.

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<v Speaker 2>So let's let's leave it at that for now. What

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<v Speaker 2>does the average full time uber or lyft driver make

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<v Speaker 2>in Massachusetts? What what do they bring home in terms

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<v Speaker 2>of money? Give us an idea about that. Assuming they're

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<v Speaker 2>working a regular, you know, regular job forty forty five

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<v Speaker 2>hours a week, not crazy over time, what can they

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<v Speaker 2>make by working you know, a forty hour week? Correct?

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<v Speaker 6>But they don't.

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<v Speaker 4>The reality is that many have to work sixty seventy

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<v Speaker 4>eighty hours a week.

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<v Speaker 3>Then the people who are working sixty or seventy hours,

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<v Speaker 3>how much? How much? What? How many hours? What do

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<v Speaker 3>they make? That's what I'm trying to understand. IM making one.

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<v Speaker 4>Hundred thousands, and I appreciate your question. If it's the

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<v Speaker 4>reality is that what we hear from drivers is that

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<v Speaker 4>they're still at the end of the day, they're still

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<v Speaker 4>not making enough.

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<v Speaker 2>No, I understand that, but can you give let me

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<v Speaker 2>ask you this, rock Sander, let me try this one. Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>can you give me a figure as to what I

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<v Speaker 2>can tell you that that you know what school teachers

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<v Speaker 2>make and you know the general I just general ideas.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm just curious if if someone wants to become a

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<v Speaker 2>ride share driver, and if they work hard, in which

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<v Speaker 2>they do okay, and they put a lot of expense,

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<v Speaker 2>They have to buy their own gasoline, they have to

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<v Speaker 2>buy their card, and no one gives them a card

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<v Speaker 2>to ride, how much do they make or can or

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<v Speaker 2>do you not want to tell me?

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<v Speaker 4>No, it's just many of the drivers are still saying

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<v Speaker 4>they make less minimum wage after all the outer pocket

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<v Speaker 4>costs that they have to put in in order to

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<v Speaker 4>basically work for these app companies. And that's why it

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<v Speaker 4>is important, like you said, you made a good point about,

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<v Speaker 4>you know, have them having a voice on a job

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<v Speaker 4>collectively right to be able to improve their lives and

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<v Speaker 4>be able to h reach an agreement with these companies

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<v Speaker 4>that will lift up and improve their lives.

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<v Speaker 3>How much of a turnover is there?

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<v Speaker 2>Again this I assume that there are some people who

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<v Speaker 2>have become a ride share driver and that it works

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<v Speaker 2>for their schedule and they basically that's what they do

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<v Speaker 2>full time, and whether it's a sixty hour week job,

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<v Speaker 2>or you know, most people think people work very few

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<v Speaker 2>people work forty hours in real life, as I'm sure

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I'm sure you work more than forty hours.

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<v Speaker 2>I know, I do, you know, it's I think the

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<v Speaker 2>idea of a forty hour work week is kind of

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know that it's there.

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<v Speaker 3>There are some people who do. How much of a

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<v Speaker 3>turnover is there in this job?

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<v Speaker 2>But people sticking with it because it's because of its

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<v Speaker 2>convenience even though it doesn't pay enough. Or are they

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<v Speaker 2>basically trying it for a year or two and then

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<v Speaker 2>saying I'm done with this, I'm going to go do

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<v Speaker 2>something else. What is there a lot of turnover in

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<v Speaker 2>this in this profession, in your in your experience.

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<v Speaker 4>So the majority of driver, the majority rights are you know,

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<v Speaker 4>done by what you know, you'd call an actor driver,

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<v Speaker 4>not ones that are just doing it for a short

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<v Speaker 4>amount of time.

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<v Speaker 1>Right.

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<v Speaker 4>And again, those that have been in this industry for years,

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<v Speaker 4>they've you know, it started out as profitable, right, they

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<v Speaker 4>were making enough to bring home, right, And then what's

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<v Speaker 4>happened is that the companies have just taken a bigger,

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<v Speaker 4>bigger share of divide and that's why they want you know,

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<v Speaker 4>that's why they're asking for folks to vote yes on three,

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00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.559
<v Speaker 4>so that they have a pathway to a union. And

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<v Speaker 4>the turnover is, you know, there's still a lot of

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<v Speaker 4>turnover in an industry like this, because just right the

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<v Speaker 4>Department of Public Utilities report seventy thousand right share drivers

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<v Speaker 4>just in the state of Massachusetts, and so that is

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<v Speaker 4>a huge number. And it is, you know, a hard

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<v Speaker 4>industry in the sense of you're talking about there isn't

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<v Speaker 4>a common work site, there's no set schedule, right, and

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<v Speaker 4>so there's challenges to you know, workers coming together right

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<v Speaker 4>to address these issues. And so there's.

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<v Speaker 3>Also there's an independence to that.

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<v Speaker 2>A lot of people who work in a factory and

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<v Speaker 2>have to show up at seven thirty every morning and

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<v Speaker 2>punch a clock and then they don't get up until

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00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.759
<v Speaker 2>you know, three point thirty in the afternoon. So there's

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<v Speaker 2>some good things about being a right chaer driver. But

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<v Speaker 2>you're saying, I think that in unity their strength, and

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00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:12.799
<v Speaker 2>if the right shaer drivers have the opportunity for a union,

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00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:18.119
<v Speaker 2>just like the hotel workers, we've just seen an example

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<v Speaker 2>of the hotel workers strike here in Boston. They apparently

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<v Speaker 2>seem to be pretty happy with the contract that they

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00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:28.400
<v Speaker 2>settled with some of the big hotels, some of the

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<v Speaker 2>luxury hotels.

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<v Speaker 3>So you know this. Unions are actually a good thing.

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<v Speaker 2>And I know that not everyone agrees with that, Probably

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00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.720
<v Speaker 2>a lot of business owners don't, but unions are a

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00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.920
<v Speaker 2>good thing. It allows people to collectively bargaining. We'll take

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00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:42.599
<v Speaker 2>a break. We're going to go to phone calls Roxane.

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<v Speaker 2>We'll get to some phone calls on the other side.

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<v Speaker 2>If you'd like to join the conversation and ask a question,

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00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:51.519
<v Speaker 2>feel free. If you'd like to state how you feel.

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<v Speaker 2>And if you are a ride share driver, an Uber driver,

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00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:56.559
<v Speaker 2>or a Lyft driver, this is an opportunity for you

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<v Speaker 2>to argue your point and try to convince people who

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<v Speaker 2>are in my listening audience to vote yes on question

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<v Speaker 2>three six months. The only lines open right now are

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<v Speaker 2>the six, one, seven, nine, three, one, ten thirty. I

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00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:14.680
<v Speaker 2>hope to carry this conversation with my guest who rocks

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<v Speaker 2>in a rivera right through this hour up until ten o'clock,

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<v Speaker 2>So stick with us. More conversation and questions, questions.

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<v Speaker 3>I learned at this job.

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<v Speaker 2>The best part about my job is that I get

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<v Speaker 2>to meet different people, whether they're callers or listeners or

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00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:36.279
<v Speaker 2>or guests I can find out. I've never been a

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<v Speaker 2>ride share driver, but with these two interviews last night

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<v Speaker 2>and tonight, I feel that I understand the industry a

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00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:47.079
<v Speaker 2>lot better. And that's that's beneficial to me because the

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<v Speaker 2>more that I know, the more that you're going to know,

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00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:53.240
<v Speaker 2>and the more the more considered your vote's going to

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<v Speaker 2>be on these ballot issues this this November. We'll be

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<v Speaker 2>right back on Nightside.

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<v Speaker 1>Night Side with Dan on Boston's News Radio.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, we're gonna take some phone calls. My guest

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<v Speaker 2>is a union official with the s c i U,

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<v Speaker 2>Roxanna Rivera, and she's co chair of the Yes on

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<v Speaker 2>Question three committee. That question is headlined in that handy

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<v Speaker 2>dandy summary that you have from the conwealtha Massachusetts law

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<v Speaker 2>proposed by initiative petition Unionization for Transportation network Drivers.

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<v Speaker 3>Let's head to the phone is going to go to

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<v Speaker 3>Dwayne in Rossendale. Dwayne, you are first this hour on

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<v Speaker 3>night Side with Roxanna Revera. Go right ahead, Dwayne.

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<v Speaker 5>Hey, Dan, great to speak with it. Yeah. I'm a

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<v Speaker 5>uber driver, left driver. I've been driving for a little

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<v Speaker 5>close to ten years. I drive off and on. I

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<v Speaker 5>don't drive a regular schedule.

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<v Speaker 2>But is it Let me ask you, Dwayne, is it

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<v Speaker 2>is it your full time job or do you do

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<v Speaker 2>you work it as a side hustle, a side hustle.

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<v Speaker 5>I'm seventy two years old, and I need you know.

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<v Speaker 2>It sounds seventy two. You got you got a young voice. Congratulations.

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<v Speaker 5>Well, well, I follow the Keith Richards program of Health,

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<v Speaker 5>nutrition and Exercise.

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<v Speaker 3>So yeah, I've heard about that program, right.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, paid off in the end.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah yeah, okay, hope you know what I'm saying.

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<v Speaker 5>Go ahead, yeah, yeah, yeah, so yeah, I uh and uh,

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<v Speaker 5>you know, it's it's been changing. I suggest that if

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<v Speaker 5>they were to put the rates and everything back to

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<v Speaker 5>where it was in twenty fifteen, I think most people

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<v Speaker 5>would be happy. And it's not just so what let

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00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:40.880
<v Speaker 5>me ask you this.

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<v Speaker 2>Just give me a couple of round figures here. When

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00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:48.000
<v Speaker 2>you started working as a when they when they arrived

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<v Speaker 2>on the scene and you were working you know, forty

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00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:54.359
<v Speaker 2>hours or whatever, it was. Okay, what were you making

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00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:56.559
<v Speaker 2>back then compared to what you're making now for the

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00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:58.559
<v Speaker 2>same amount of work. That's I just want to put

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00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:00.640
<v Speaker 2>it in some numbers that people will understand.

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00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.240
<v Speaker 3>Most of us.

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00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.759
<v Speaker 2>You work, you get a little raise. Maybe you don't

398
00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:05.880
<v Speaker 2>get a raise, you get a little raise. I mean,

399
00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:08.759
<v Speaker 2>inflation is killing all of us, no doubt about that.

400
00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:11.880
<v Speaker 2>But just in terms of how much you would take

401
00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:15.359
<v Speaker 2>it home back ten years ago versus today for the

402
00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.400
<v Speaker 2>same amount of work, give me a rough idea.

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00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:21.359
<v Speaker 5>Well, back then I was driving black car and suv

404
00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:24.960
<v Speaker 5>in the rates were three dollars and ninety five cents

405
00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.400
<v Speaker 5>a mile. Now it's a little about a dollar fifty

406
00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.079
<v Speaker 5>I could make.

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00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:32.359
<v Speaker 2>More than which is yeah, that's a good that's been

408
00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.799
<v Speaker 2>cut more than fifty percent.

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00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.880
<v Speaker 3>It's been cut in half.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, yeah, and everything else has been going down as well.

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00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:42.480
<v Speaker 5>Right now, I figure I make somewhere around thirty three

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00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:46.079
<v Speaker 5>dollars an hour. I work in the city. Because I

413
00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:48.640
<v Speaker 5>live in the city, I work in the neighborhoods. There's not

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00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:52.519
<v Speaker 5>a lot of downtime between pickups.

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<v Speaker 3>But not a lot of launch trips either.

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<v Speaker 5>Oh, I avoid those. I avoid those right now are

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00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:59.480
<v Speaker 5>in front of me. I've got a receipt from the

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00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:03.599
<v Speaker 5>job I did the Manchester, New Hampshire. The passenger paid

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00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:07.680
<v Speaker 5>ninety dollars and three cents. I earned forty nine dollars

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00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:12.480
<v Speaker 5>and seventeen cents, So they took you know, forty dollars.

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<v Speaker 3>And then you've got to drive back from Manchester.

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00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:20.400
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, at ten o'clock at night. So I drove back empty. Right, sure,

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00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:23.759
<v Speaker 5>it's one hundred figure, it's one hundred miles. I RS.

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<v Speaker 5>Lets me right off sixty seven cents a mile. That's

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00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:29.279
<v Speaker 5>a loss. That's a that's a loss on paper. So

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<v Speaker 5>not only am I not making any money, I'm not

427
00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:36.319
<v Speaker 5>paying taxes either, you know, the communities. I mean, I

428
00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:39.400
<v Speaker 5>appreciate all your taxes because they give me good roads

429
00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:42.839
<v Speaker 5>to drive on in emergency services should they need them,

430
00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.759
<v Speaker 5>because I'm.

431
00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:47.440
<v Speaker 2>Not making so you like, So you like even though

432
00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:50.519
<v Speaker 2>they're cutting you back from three ninety five a mile

433
00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:53.160
<v Speaker 2>to a buck and a half a mile, you'd prefer

434
00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:55.920
<v Speaker 2>to do a whole bunch of shot short runs as

435
00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:58.440
<v Speaker 2>long as you stay within the one twenty eight area.

436
00:22:58.519 --> 00:23:00.839
<v Speaker 2>And when you when you take a job up to

437
00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:02.960
<v Speaker 2>New Hampshire, you think you said, oh beautiful, I'm going

438
00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.680
<v Speaker 2>to make a lot of money. Actually that's going to

439
00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.519
<v Speaker 2>be a loser for you.

440
00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:09.319
<v Speaker 5>Absolutely, yeah, yeah, it's a big loser. In fact, they

441
00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:12.319
<v Speaker 5>don't even publish their rates anymore. They make it up

442
00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:12.720
<v Speaker 5>on the fly.

443
00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:15.559
<v Speaker 3>I do understand they have surge price.

444
00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:17.559
<v Speaker 2>I know the surge pricing deal and all of that,

445
00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:21.000
<v Speaker 2>and it's a little bit, you know, a little bit

446
00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:23.839
<v Speaker 2>crazy for those of us who do occasionally take it

447
00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:26.759
<v Speaker 2>and over. But you know something, Dwayne, you explained the

448
00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:30.960
<v Speaker 2>dilemma that you're facing really well, and I think that

449
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:35.119
<v Speaker 2>anybody who's out there will understand why you want to

450
00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:37.880
<v Speaker 2>get into into a union of right share drivers.

451
00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:40.920
<v Speaker 5>This has to be settled down. We need we need

452
00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.440
<v Speaker 5>some we need some standardization of how much we're going

453
00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:47.640
<v Speaker 5>to earn, what the rates are. There are no rates.

454
00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:50.920
<v Speaker 5>If you're going to the airport, you're in no position

455
00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:54.079
<v Speaker 5>to negotiate. You've got to get there. And I'm finding

456
00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:57.119
<v Speaker 5>that my passengers who are going to the airport are

457
00:23:57.160 --> 00:24:00.799
<v Speaker 5>paying a lot more than what I get paid. There's

458
00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.440
<v Speaker 5>still a surge, but uber and Lyft are taking it.

459
00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:09.000
<v Speaker 5>They're not advertising it. And I recommend to passengers talk

460
00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:11.519
<v Speaker 5>to your driver, ask them how much they are getting

461
00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:13.880
<v Speaker 5>paid for this job. And I think you'll be surprised

462
00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:16.319
<v Speaker 5>that where the money's going.

463
00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:21.920
<v Speaker 2>Well, what is so what is a normal middle of

464
00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:26.240
<v Speaker 2>the day or whatever from downtown Boston to the airport.

465
00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:28.400
<v Speaker 2>That's only probably five or six miles max.

466
00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:32.440
<v Speaker 5>Right, yeah, yeah, something like that. Yeah, from downtown Boston.

467
00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:35.119
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, So how much and depending upon the day,

468
00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:37.079
<v Speaker 2>it's going to cost take time, a lot of time

469
00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:37.720
<v Speaker 2>or less time.

470
00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:41.039
<v Speaker 3>What's the charge going to be? Roughly twenty bucks, twenty

471
00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.720
<v Speaker 3>five bucks more?

472
00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:45.680
<v Speaker 5>Oh no, no, it could be anything from eight to

473
00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:51.160
<v Speaker 5>thirteen dollars from downtown back Bay, say back Bay, Cambridge,

474
00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.160
<v Speaker 5>he's Cambridge.

475
00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:54.200
<v Speaker 3>Okay, so that's a good deal.

476
00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:57.480
<v Speaker 2>That is a good deal for the customer, but it's

477
00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:59.319
<v Speaker 2>horrible for the drivers.

478
00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:04.079
<v Speaker 5>Yeah. Well, well I'm not sure how much the customers paying. Yeah,

479
00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:04.720
<v Speaker 5>we don't know.

480
00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:07.480
<v Speaker 3>Oh you're saying you get anywhere between eight and thirteen.

481
00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:09.920
<v Speaker 2>Okay, fine, So the customer could be paying two or

482
00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:11.680
<v Speaker 2>three times that at least.

483
00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:14.920
<v Speaker 5>Could be paying twice that maybe, Yeah, okay, yep.

484
00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.880
<v Speaker 3>You know what's funny.

485
00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:20.119
<v Speaker 2>When Uber came in back in whatever it was, twenty fifteen,

486
00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:23.000
<v Speaker 2>twenty sixteen, I was amazed that they were able to

487
00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:25.960
<v Speaker 2>come and basically we fled the city. The people who

488
00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:30.160
<v Speaker 2>really took it in the chops with the taxi cab drivers,

489
00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:32.920
<v Speaker 2>guys who had paid money, big money to have a

490
00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:37.559
<v Speaker 2>medallion and Uber didn't care about them. They rolled right

491
00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:41.599
<v Speaker 2>I was right, they rolled right over the What did

492
00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:43.599
<v Speaker 2>you pay for you? Well, did you own a medallion

493
00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:43.839
<v Speaker 2>or no?

494
00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:47.799
<v Speaker 5>I did not know. I leased a cab, right, So what.

495
00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.559
<v Speaker 2>I'm saying you when you leased it, you were still

496
00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:53.079
<v Speaker 2>paying the person you know factored in there was how

497
00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:55.720
<v Speaker 2>much the medallion costume. Uber just came in and they

498
00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:59.319
<v Speaker 2>rolled over people, rolled over people. And the cabby's had

499
00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:05.640
<v Speaker 2>no organization, The cabvis just they were They rolled over them.

500
00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:09.759
<v Speaker 2>And now Uber is basically eating and you know, doing

501
00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:13.039
<v Speaker 2>the same thing through through its most valuable employees. They're

502
00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:14.599
<v Speaker 2>pretty they're pretty cutthroat.

503
00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:16.920
<v Speaker 3>Man. That's that you got reunion?

504
00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:19.160
<v Speaker 5>Ye we do? We do?

505
00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:22.680
<v Speaker 3>You got a question or comment from my guest Roxanna.

506
00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.039
<v Speaker 2>No.

507
00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:27.119
<v Speaker 4>I think what Duena's talking about is the reality is

508
00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.680
<v Speaker 4>so many drivers that we've talked through over the last

509
00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:33.759
<v Speaker 4>two years that they've just you know, seen the the

510
00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.720
<v Speaker 4>company is taking more and more of the share of

511
00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:38.319
<v Speaker 4>the ride, and that you know, and and there's other

512
00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:42.160
<v Speaker 4>issues that they have to also address. And being able

513
00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.680
<v Speaker 4>to be able to directly negotiate with these companies and

514
00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:47.759
<v Speaker 4>having drivers at the table is what's going to shape

515
00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:50.319
<v Speaker 4>and change this industry for the better, not just for

516
00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:52.799
<v Speaker 4>the drivers that I think for passengers too.

517
00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:57.839
<v Speaker 2>Do you think fears will go up for passengers?

518
00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:01.039
<v Speaker 4>So I think that, just like Dwayne was saying, how

519
00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:03.559
<v Speaker 4>much of the share is right they've taken, you know,

520
00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:06.119
<v Speaker 4>we believe that they can take less and they're going

521
00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:08.680
<v Speaker 4>to want to remain competitive for their you know, to

522
00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:12.000
<v Speaker 4>keep their customers happy. And we think that they can

523
00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:16.000
<v Speaker 4>still pay drivers fairly given you know that they uphold

524
00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:19.880
<v Speaker 4>this whole industry every day for these Yeah, without.

525
00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:21.799
<v Speaker 2>Without the drivers, that there was no industry. You're right

526
00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.759
<v Speaker 2>on that, Dwayne. Great call. Thank you so much. You

527
00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:27.480
<v Speaker 2>gave us a lot of specifics. I'm sure you your

528
00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:30.279
<v Speaker 2>call convinced a lot of people that maybe they want

529
00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.039
<v Speaker 2>to vote yes on this.

530
00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:34.759
<v Speaker 3>Thanks Dwayne, I hope so favor. Keep listening to the show,

531
00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:37.240
<v Speaker 3>love to have you become a regular listener and regular caller.

532
00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:40.000
<v Speaker 5>I will do that all right, Thank you, Dan.

533
00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:42.039
<v Speaker 2>Thanks to We take quick break, coming right back on

534
00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:44.240
<v Speaker 2>nice side, my guest Lexander Rivere.

535
00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:47.200
<v Speaker 3>Dwayne was good. Dwayne was good. You could tell he

536
00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:49.480
<v Speaker 3>was talking just from the heart. We'll take a quick break,

537
00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:52.000
<v Speaker 3>coming back on nights side. We'll try to get everybody in.

538
00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:54.160
<v Speaker 3>I promised there's one line that's open at six one,

539
00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:56.839
<v Speaker 3>seven thirty. Back on night Side with Dan Ray.

540
00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:01.480
<v Speaker 1>Now back to Dan Ray from the Window World night

541
00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:04.519
<v Speaker 1>Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.

542
00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:08.759
<v Speaker 2>Okay, folks, the lines are now packed and I have

543
00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:11.519
<v Speaker 2>a guest coming up at ten o'clock, so I'm going

544
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.640
<v Speaker 2>to ask each of you to be as succinct as possible.

545
00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:17.359
<v Speaker 2>I wish all of you had called nine thirty. I

546
00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:20.440
<v Speaker 2>what it got you all in. Let's go right now too,

547
00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:24.160
<v Speaker 2>kehob In framing him. Eab you are next on Nightsiger, right.

548
00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:29.440
<v Speaker 6>Ahead, Yes, thank you so much for taking my call.

549
00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:32.400
<v Speaker 6>I have been driver for a long time now eighty years,

550
00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:36.400
<v Speaker 6>and our job really getting very difficult. All the expenses

551
00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:38.680
<v Speaker 6>on the shoulder of the drivers. I would like to

552
00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:40.960
<v Speaker 6>speak more about numbers. I have been listening to you,

553
00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:44.839
<v Speaker 6>but your time is very limited. But Dan, our job

554
00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:48.680
<v Speaker 6>is really extremely getting difficult. The drivers, they have no protection.

555
00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:51.599
<v Speaker 6>They can stop any driver anytime they want. The activation

556
00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:55.319
<v Speaker 6>is a nightmare for the drivers. And again with the insulation.

557
00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:58.119
<v Speaker 6>I used to drive a highlander, you know, putting like

558
00:28:58.200 --> 00:29:01.839
<v Speaker 6>four doughter gallen in my I reduce my car to

559
00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:04.680
<v Speaker 6>a priers. I'm a tall guy. I'm a five a

560
00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:08.519
<v Speaker 6>six five tall guy, So I reduce the prier just

561
00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:11.119
<v Speaker 6>to cut my expenses. And they are so greedy. When

562
00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.960
<v Speaker 6>I started, like eight years ago, they used to take

563
00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:17.720
<v Speaker 6>twenty percent and just as do when the first caller said,

564
00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:21.000
<v Speaker 6>they used to give good Baird mile and then we

565
00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:23.000
<v Speaker 6>use work like forty fifteen minutes. You can make a

566
00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:25.440
<v Speaker 6>living and bring the food in the table, put for

567
00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:28.680
<v Speaker 6>your family. Now we work seventy eighty hours and the

568
00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:31.359
<v Speaker 6>thing is done. This is a growth this is a

569
00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:34.359
<v Speaker 6>gross So what they're talking about now the Attorney general

570
00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:38.039
<v Speaker 6>lawsuit is the active hours. You know, to put active

571
00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:40.519
<v Speaker 6>hours done, you need to put double time. So when

572
00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:43.160
<v Speaker 6>they tell you like forty hours active hours, you put

573
00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:45.759
<v Speaker 6>sixty seventy. They don't talk about that. They don't talk

574
00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:49.039
<v Speaker 6>about your growth hours you're putting there down all the

575
00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:52.279
<v Speaker 6>expenses on the drivers we put, God, I pave my insurance,

576
00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:55.640
<v Speaker 6>my maintenance car, you name it, all of it. I

577
00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:58.519
<v Speaker 6>can see how this declining in the last eight years

578
00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:02.799
<v Speaker 6>is intense. The amount justice they're literally taken advantage of

579
00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:06.119
<v Speaker 6>these drivers majority as people of color, immigrants, English the

580
00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:09.599
<v Speaker 6>second language. Most of these drivers is my people, my community.

581
00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:12.640
<v Speaker 6>I know them very well. I'm originally from Sudan, from Africa.

582
00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:15.079
<v Speaker 6>I speak Arabic. I know the arm drivers, the Muslim driver,

583
00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:18.079
<v Speaker 6>the African drivers, all all of them. They tell me

584
00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:20.720
<v Speaker 6>the same thing. The Latin's drivers, the Chinese, they have

585
00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:24.160
<v Speaker 6>been struggling, is getting worse and worse. And as you

586
00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:26.480
<v Speaker 6>said at the beginning, done, I was listening to you,

587
00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:30.079
<v Speaker 6>our lawmakers, they fell us miserably. We had a right

588
00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:32.400
<v Speaker 6>shap driver, just as Bill. They could have just passed it.

589
00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:34.440
<v Speaker 6>Then they did not pass it. They did not do

590
00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.119
<v Speaker 6>the right things.

591
00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:35.880
<v Speaker 7>And now.

592
00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:40.759
<v Speaker 2>You that's why I was asking that question, because it

593
00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:43.119
<v Speaker 2>would have been a lot easier on a lot of

594
00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:45.880
<v Speaker 2>people if they had done the right thing quickly. They

595
00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:49.640
<v Speaker 2>have your call. Your call is an outstanding call. I

596
00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:52.319
<v Speaker 2>wish I had more time. I don't. I hope you

597
00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:55.599
<v Speaker 2>call me and continue to continue to listen to programmed.

598
00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:57.759
<v Speaker 6>Oh will I will task to the drivers to this

599
00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.920
<v Speaker 6>intense tone, I will done.

600
00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:02.440
<v Speaker 3>Thank you. We I hope to meet you someday. Thank you,

601
00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.920
<v Speaker 3>my friend.

602
00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.079
<v Speaker 6>Oh, thank you, Donki. We appreciate you.

603
00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:05.960
<v Speaker 5>Don Kiyrosana.

604
00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:08.799
<v Speaker 3>Thanks by all right, let me go to Rachel.

605
00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:11.000
<v Speaker 2>Rachel, you gotta be I know you've been waiting a while, Rachel,

606
00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.480
<v Speaker 2>but I got a whole bunch of folks here.

607
00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.920
<v Speaker 3>You gotta be a little quicker, I.

608
00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:18.279
<v Speaker 8>Know, all right, I'm gonna be really really really quick.

609
00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.279
<v Speaker 2>One.

610
00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:23.519
<v Speaker 8>When you ask that woman that you are with and

611
00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:26.880
<v Speaker 8>ask what they make in hours, she did not answer.

612
00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:34.000
<v Speaker 8>My whole thing, I manage your companies. That's union. My

613
00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:39.039
<v Speaker 8>lineman went down and did whatever. So when you do

614
00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:48.519
<v Speaker 8>union stuff, now you get into federal state, whatever. But

615
00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:53.960
<v Speaker 8>if these guys or these drives are being hired by

616
00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:59.880
<v Speaker 8>these companies and not being paid, she never even said, what,

617
00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:05.039
<v Speaker 8>you know, the right is that they're being paid. But

618
00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:09.640
<v Speaker 8>then she's gonna open the can of worms if she's

619
00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.960
<v Speaker 8>gonna start union stuff.

620
00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.119
<v Speaker 7>And I believe in union.

621
00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.759
<v Speaker 6>I work for union companies.

622
00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:16.240
<v Speaker 2>No, But I think I think that these drivers, Rachel,

623
00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:18.400
<v Speaker 2>I think that they have a right to unionize.

624
00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:21.720
<v Speaker 3>I think that they have no strength as an individual driver.

625
00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.400
<v Speaker 2>You know.

626
00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:25.440
<v Speaker 3>I I think it's Fairnish.

627
00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:30.599
<v Speaker 2>You gotta you gotta make that negotiating table somewhat, you know, level.

628
00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:32.920
<v Speaker 3>That's all that. I'm just trying to be fair, that's all.

629
00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:36.920
<v Speaker 8>No, you listen, Dan, you know me and I'm trying

630
00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:41.839
<v Speaker 8>to be fair as well. Okay, it's what happens you

631
00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:46.640
<v Speaker 8>start unionizing. You gotta deal with the state. Oh and

632
00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:50.119
<v Speaker 8>then you have to background check, you have to do this,

633
00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:55.880
<v Speaker 8>and again you have you asked more than once what

634
00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.400
<v Speaker 8>are these guys making?

635
00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:59.400
<v Speaker 3>So that's okay, that's okay.

636
00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:01.920
<v Speaker 2>Look, my my, you know, I don't hound the guests,

637
00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:05.599
<v Speaker 2>but I but you know, I think she look I

638
00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:07.720
<v Speaker 2>like to give people the benefits of the doubt, Rachel.

639
00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:11.160
<v Speaker 2>And I think that Dwayne put it out there pretty clearly.

640
00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:13.880
<v Speaker 2>He said that they used to make three ninety five

641
00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.480
<v Speaker 2>a mile. Now they make a buck and a half

642
00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.400
<v Speaker 2>a mile. That's a big cause.

643
00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:22.079
<v Speaker 8>I understand that, but it should be something else. So

644
00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:27.759
<v Speaker 8>if they're going traveling, it's it's a definitely unique situation.

645
00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:33.079
<v Speaker 8>But Dan, you know, unions now you gotta pay into

646
00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.920
<v Speaker 8>you start unionized.

647
00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.880
<v Speaker 3>No, I'm a union member, Rachel. I know.

648
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.519
<v Speaker 2>I've been a union member for a long time. I

649
00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:42.000
<v Speaker 2>was a shop steward and we we had tough negotiations.

650
00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:45.880
<v Speaker 2>I you know you, I am not in any way,

651
00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:47.119
<v Speaker 2>shape or form a post to unions.

652
00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:48.000
<v Speaker 3>I'm a union person.

653
00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:51.039
<v Speaker 2>So we can disagree on that you're in a management position.

654
00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:54.599
<v Speaker 2>I'm not smart enough to be in management, Okay, Rachel.

655
00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:58.839
<v Speaker 8>I am union. I want these guys to get I.

656
00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:03.119
<v Speaker 2>Well, vote yes on three, vote yes on three, and

657
00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:04.079
<v Speaker 2>and give them a chance.

658
00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:05.960
<v Speaker 3>Okay. Uber's pretty cutthroat.

659
00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:08.440
<v Speaker 2>It sounds to me like Uber and Lyft are kind

660
00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:12.000
<v Speaker 2>of having their own way, and I like I like fairness. Rachel,

661
00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.679
<v Speaker 2>I got a screwed. We did three minutes, which is

662
00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:15.840
<v Speaker 2>much longer than I could. But because you were regular,

663
00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:17.119
<v Speaker 2>you go a little longer.

664
00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:19.239
<v Speaker 3>Now. No, No, it was always good at different point

665
00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:21.519
<v Speaker 3>of view. Thanks so much. Okay, talk soon. Let me

666
00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.400
<v Speaker 3>go to Alan Boston.

667
00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.719
<v Speaker 2>Al, you gotta be quick for me so I can

668
00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:26.119
<v Speaker 2>get Susan from Jamaica plane into go ahead.

669
00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.280
<v Speaker 3>Al.

670
00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:30.159
<v Speaker 7>Hey, damn hey, listen. One thing nobody's talking about is

671
00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:34.079
<v Speaker 7>uh the insurance of these drivers. Most of these drivers

672
00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:37.320
<v Speaker 7>only have regular auto insurance. There was an incident a

673
00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:39.679
<v Speaker 7>few years ago on ninety three and heading into the

674
00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:41.880
<v Speaker 7>city where a young girl was killed at college student

675
00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:45.280
<v Speaker 7>and come to find out, the insurance company renegged on

676
00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:51.280
<v Speaker 7>paying because it's a you know, higher higher come.

677
00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:51.960
<v Speaker 3>Yeah.

678
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:55.559
<v Speaker 2>Basically they claimed that that the guy didn't buy commercial coverage.

679
00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:58.320
<v Speaker 3>He had bought you know, regular personal insurance.

680
00:34:58.039 --> 00:35:00.840
<v Speaker 7>Correct, and that that's tough.

681
00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:03.840
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well again, you know, people try to people try

682
00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:06.960
<v Speaker 2>to cut corners, Okay, and I'm not saying it's right.

683
00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:08.719
<v Speaker 3>Roxan, A quick comment on that.

684
00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:12.960
<v Speaker 2>Do you think that that the drivers can maybe you know,

685
00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:15.519
<v Speaker 2>pay a little bit more for insurance when when everything

686
00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:18.039
<v Speaker 2>gets gets squared away here and they're getting a little

687
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:20.840
<v Speaker 2>bit more money on their jobs.

688
00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:24.280
<v Speaker 4>We want Those are types of issues that we need

689
00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:27.199
<v Speaker 4>to deal with right when we when when drivers actually

690
00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:29.639
<v Speaker 4>get to the process of actually having the option to

691
00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:31.639
<v Speaker 4>join the union and then being able to sit down

692
00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:34.639
<v Speaker 4>with the companies and talk about this because because safety

693
00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:37.840
<v Speaker 4>should be a priority, right. But the issue, the issue

694
00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:41.760
<v Speaker 4>is that it's it's these these app companies have shifted

695
00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:45.639
<v Speaker 4>the whole liability on the workers, right, and so that

696
00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:48.039
<v Speaker 4>that needs to change in order for this insight.

697
00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:50.760
<v Speaker 3>I hope, I hope it does. And I think that's

698
00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:53.519
<v Speaker 3>concerned Command Dress. Now, I hate you to do this

699
00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:55.679
<v Speaker 3>year called in really late. I want to give Susan

700
00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:58.679
<v Speaker 3>about thirty seconds to Okay, thank you, my friend, thank you.

701
00:35:58.519 --> 00:36:01.199
<v Speaker 2>Susan, and Jamaica Plan I forced to give you about

702
00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:01.800
<v Speaker 2>forty seconds.

703
00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:02.880
<v Speaker 3>Go ahead, Susan, what's.

704
00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:03.199
<v Speaker 6>Your coming out?

705
00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:06.320
<v Speaker 9>So I was confused by the ads, and then I

706
00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:08.719
<v Speaker 9>got my red books and the legal women voilters, and

707
00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:11.039
<v Speaker 9>I read the four and the against, and I read

708
00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:14.239
<v Speaker 9>the against, and it's the same old anti union stuff.

709
00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:16.679
<v Speaker 9>Oh you'll pay your money, you'll get nothing, blah blah

710
00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:19.920
<v Speaker 9>blah blah blah. And then I realized, who's on the

711
00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:24.239
<v Speaker 9>flour and Roxanne and the union she represents has ably

712
00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:29.679
<v Speaker 9>represented the lowest paid service workers in this city, building

713
00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:33.800
<v Speaker 9>cleaners and parking lot attendance, people who had nothing and

714
00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:37.760
<v Speaker 9>no representation. And that union has proved itself. It has

715
00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:41.039
<v Speaker 9>proved it can it can represent a low age, a

716
00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:43.480
<v Speaker 9>low age immigrant work for.

717
00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:47.840
<v Speaker 3>You've done Gil too. You made an interesting point.

718
00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:51.360
<v Speaker 2>I would only ask you to call in earlier because

719
00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:54.239
<v Speaker 2>because once ten o'clock comes along, I got to say

720
00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:57.159
<v Speaker 2>good night, so we'll talk again, I hope. Okay, Thanks sir,

721
00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:59.199
<v Speaker 2>Thank you, jam Thank you very much. We got you

722
00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:01.960
<v Speaker 2>in at least a little bit. Roxana, thank you very much,

723
00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:06.880
<v Speaker 2>Best of luck. On November fifth, Question three, I think

724
00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:10.119
<v Speaker 2>that the driver should have right to unionize in my opinion,

725
00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:12.519
<v Speaker 2>and maybe later on you bring the other people in

726
00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:14.440
<v Speaker 2>as well. Thanks so much for being with us tonight

727
00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:17.159
<v Speaker 2>and thanks for dusting your schedule so we can.

728
00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:19.360
<v Speaker 3>Have you back to back with the other point of view.

729
00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:22.199
<v Speaker 4>Thanks so much, Roxanna, thank you, thank you.

730
00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:25.239
<v Speaker 3>Have a great night. Here comes to ten o'clock News.

731
00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:26.920
<v Speaker 2>We're going to switch off focus, going to talk about

732
00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:28.840
<v Speaker 2>Israel're going to talk with the Boston attorney who was

733
00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:32.360
<v Speaker 2>there on October seventh and went back earlier this month

734
00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:34.800
<v Speaker 2>and comes back with stories about what's going on in

735
00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:38.880
<v Speaker 2>Israel right now. Israel under siege. It's a crazy situation

736
00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:42.440
<v Speaker 2>over there. And Jason Greenberg will join us right after

737
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.400
<v Speaker 2>the ten o'clock News