Wheel-Trans taxi drivers strike over wage cuts

Thursday, July 17, 2014

For a token a ride, Wheel-Trans is the cheapest transportation available to people with disabilities. But accessible taxi drivers say the TTC wants them to provide the service even more cheaply.

Last weekend, the city’s contract with three taxi brokerages for Wheel-Trans expired and the new contract has dropped drivers’ guaranteed pay from $2.86 to $2.50 per kilometre.

Now more than 80 per cent of the drivers are on strike until they get their old fees back.

“We can’t afford it,” said Ahmed Idris Ali, who has been driving for Wheel-Trans since 2000. “If you calculate it out, we’re working for seven dollars per hour — that’s less than minimum wage.”

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