Why Taxi Cooperatives Offer Better Job Security for Drivers

Summary

There’s been a lot of attention on the exploitative practices of ride-sharing companies — long hours, inadequate pay, and little to no benefits. But traditional taxi systems that pre-dated app-based platforms were not much better. Even before Uber, Lyft, Grab, and other ride-hailing companies entered the market, drivers faced challenges in earning a decent living wage as a result of the medallion system and other regulatory schemes. But over the past few years, taxi cooperatives have been providing an alternative model for drivers that emphasizes job security and well-being, rather than just profits. Drivers who are part of taxi cooperatives are usually both members and co-owners, which puts them at the center — and gives them a voice in how the cooperative functions.