Saskatoon cabbies worry merger will put the brakes on safety
Comfort and United Cabs to become one
The union representing Saskatoon's cabbies says the companies they drive for are thinking too much about business and not enough about keeping drivers safe in the wake of news this week that Comfort and United Cabs will soon amalgamate.
It's the right of every worker to have a safe job environment.- Malik Draz
"It was kind of a big surprise for everybody," said taxi driver and United Steelworkers representative Malik Draz in an interview with CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning.
Companies confirm merger
In a written statement to CBC News, the two companies confirmed that they will "begin the internal work involved in joining forces to better serve the community through increased investment in new technology, better training and improved customer service."
Draz isn't sold on the idea.
"Monopoly in any business is not good, especially in the taxi industry," he said. "For the drivers or even from the customer's point of view you should have more than one option."
He said he also worries that this merger will make it even tougher for drivers to push taxi companies for changes that will make their jobs safer and more secure.
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The fight for change
Draz said that taxi drivers have been fighting for some time to have better safety equipment become mandatory in the vehicles and for some sort of compensation for drivers and their families if they become victims of violence.
"It's the right of every worker to have a safe job environment."
Draz promised that drivers will continue to push for change, including a better system for permits that would see them issued directly to drivers, instead of to the companies.
In the meantime, Comfort and United Cabs said that their internal merger will be "followed up by a public announcement in mid-June of a brand-new taxi company that will better meet the future transportation needs of Saskatoon."
with files from Saskatoon Morning