Union local president says taxi merger came as surprise
Details on deal between Comfort, United not expected to be known until summer
Union local president Malik Umar Draz thinks the coming merger between Saskatoon’s two taxi companies, Comfort Cab and United Cabs, is a “monopoly.”
“It is their business, it is their call, so they can do whatever they want with their business. But as for (where) the drivers are concerned, I think a monopoly in any business is not good,” said Draz, president of United Steelworkers Local 2014.
Comfort and United are merging operations. The two brands will continue to operate separately, but more details about the deal — said to be about improving service, access and efficiency for customers — won’t be known until the summer.
Comfort Cab operations manager Shondra Boire said on Friday that meetings were held in midMay, at which the merger was discussed with drivers and franchise owners.
“All drivers were invited, although not all took the opportunity to come,” she wrote in a message to The StarPhoenix.
They can do whatever they want with their business. But as for (where) the drivers are concerned, I think a monopoly in any business is not good.
Draz said drivers for both companies expected to hear about improved benefit plans or health coverage, but the merger announcement came instead, which took the drivers by surprise.
He said the union will call a meeting about the merger with its members.
He’s unsure how it will affect their requests for more safety features, he added.
“Still, I’m quite optimistic that things will change for the betterment of the drivers and for the betterment of the industry.”
This week, the provincial government passed the Vehicles for Hire Act, which contains guidelines that will apply to ride sharing services, taxi companies and limousine services.
With ride-sharing “around the corner,” Draz said the union wants taxi licences issued directly to the drivers, rather than to the companies.
That way the drivers would have “controls and their freedom,” and if they don’t like the merger, they can open their own companies and have their own taxi licences, he said.