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Board urges Yellow Cab not to require deposits after drivers protest prepayment plan
Summary
Following public testimony from numerous taxi drivers and advocates, the Board adopted a resolution urging Yellow Cab Cooperative not to require prepayments or deposits and asking the Taxi Commission to bar such practices.
San Francisco — After a series of public comments from taxi drivers and driver advocates protesting taxi-company prepayment requirements, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution urging Yellow Cab Cooperative, Inc. not to require deposits or prepayments from cab drivers and asking the Taxi Commission to consider rules prohibiting the practice.
Multiple taxi drivers spoke during public comment, describing company directives that would require drivers to pay sums ranging into the thousands as a precondition to retain the ability to operate cabs. John Hahn, a Yellow Cab driver, told the board he had been told the company intends to require drivers to hand over large sums — “close to $2,000” for some full‑time drivers — with a deadline for payment or risk of termination. He said drivers were being asked to make these payments as a condition of continuing to work.
Representatives of United Taxicab Workers urged the board to back a resolution opposing the company policy. Rua Grafus of United Taxicab Workers told the board that drivers making modest annual incomes could not afford such prepayments and framed the demand as a historic labor issue: “For years, the longshore workers had had to pay the boss to get the job. Finally, workers got tired of paying to work, and they struck,” Grafus said, calling on the board to support protections for drivers.
Board members adopted the resolution as part of a consent calendar block (Items 33–36), which passed by roll call with 11 ayes. The specific calendar item (Item 35) reads: “Resolution urging Yellow Cab Cooperative, Inc. not to require deposits or prepayments from taxicab drivers and urging the Taxi Commission to adopt rules prohibiting the collection of deposits or prepayments.”
Drivers and advocates said the board’s action was an important step to protect drivers’ worker protections and livelihoods while industry and state labor processes continue to review employment classifications and tax liabilities. Several speakers urged the city to prevent enforcement actions or policies that would convert drivers’ status or remove labor protections.
