NEW YORK TAXIS

Evening Star, Issue 21637, 5 February 1934, Page 12

NEW YORK TAXIS

STRIKE OF DRIVERS TRANSPORT SYSTEM DISRUPTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, February 2. Taking advantage of heavy snow overnight, which made walking difficult. 8,000 to 15,000 taxicab drivers halted their service in a surprise strike early this morning, seriously disrupting the city’s transportation system. The unions demand that the accrued proceeds of the city tax - of five cents on each fare, which was later declared unconstitutional, should go to the drivers instead of the companies. The mayor (Mr La Guardia) declared the strike legal, and halted the issuance of new drivers’ licenses to prevent the owners importing gangsters and other undesirables. He offered to arbitrate on the differences. There is considerable violence, as the unionitts have picketed the railway terminals and steamship piers. There were scuffles with independent drivers accepting passengers. THE PARIS STRIKE PARIS. February 2. As a protest against the new petrol tax, only 800 out of 7,000 taxis were plying yesterday. The strike has ince been intensified, only 400 now' running, and pickets are striving to lessen the number. Meanwhile hundreds of strikers are driving slowly around the chief centres, blocking traffic. They are immune from arrest while they keep moving.