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Philadelphia Cab Drivers Vote for Leadership, Establish 2nd Largest Union in Country

by Todd Wolfson, Media Mobilizing Project | 07.12.2008

On Wednesday July 9th, the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) held their first election for president. Ronald Blount won the election with 64% of the votes while Muhammad Chughtai came in second with 31% of the votes. n discussing the future of the UTWA, Blount commented: "This is a new era for cab drivers across the city. The UTWA officially puts the Philadelphia Parking Authority on notice. Their days of corruption and oppressing taxi drivers over. Cab drivers across this city will make their voices and concerns heard and we will find justice within this industry."

On Wednesday July 9th, the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) held their first election for president. The election was part of a process of merging the Unified Brotherhood of Taxi Drivers and Owner-Operators and the Taxi Workers Alliance of PA (TWA). Four candidates ran for president, including Muhammad Chughtai and Ronald Blount, the previous presidents of the Brotherhood and TWA respectively. Ronald Blount won the election with 64% of the votes while Muhammad Chughtai came in second with 31% of the votes. Steve Chervenka, a driver and member of the election commission explained, "This is a real victory for cab drivers across the city." He went on, "The UTWA is now the second largest union of cab drivers in the country and we will speak with one unified voice to the PPA and medallion owners." The National Lawyers Guild and the Media Mobilizing Project (MMP) oversaw the election, and MMP independently counted and verified the votes on Wednesday evening. Mica Root of MMP commented that, "This was a well organized election that saw over a 150% increase in voter participation." The next step for President Blount and the UTWA is to form a leadership committee which includes a vice president, secretary, treasurer as well as as a board of directors from the different communities of cab drivers. In discussing the future of the UTWA, Blount commented: "This is a new era for cab drivers across the city. The UTWA officially puts the Philadelphia Parking Authority on notice. Their days of corruption and oppressing taxi drivers over. Cab drivers across this city will make their voices and concerns heard and we will find justice within this industry."

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