User:Breecmucla14/Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance (LATWA)

Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance (LATWA) is an organization based in Los Angeles, California with the goal of organizing and empowering the 4,000 local taxi drivers into a collective movement to rid the taxi industry of abuse of the drivers, poverty wages, the lack of healthcare and poor working conditions. LATWA was formed in 2005 by attorneys and taxi drivers who partnered with South Asian Network and its leader, Hamid Khan. It is headed by Khan and co-founder, Sentayehu Silassie.

LATWA has accomplished two meter rate increases, and a $15 minimum airport fee, which resulted in $22 million in additional income for Los Angeles taxi drivers. They also were able to eliminate the necktie requirement, which posed safety risks to drivers, and won a lawsuit against seven taxi companies who had harassed and intimidated drivers. LATWA is establishing a franchise with the city for a more cooperative industry for taxi drivers, and working toward a shift from the industry-led cooperative to a taxi driver-led cooperative of cab companies. Their future goals are to enlarge in membership and offer health fairs to taxi drivers.

There are a few specific people or groups who have contributed to the LATWA. This includes Julie Su at APALC, Betty Hung at Inner City Law Center, and Liberty Hill, who invests in community leaders for change. Liberty Hill first invested in LATWA in 2007 as a start-up project with South Asian Network, and since, has invested $55,000 in organizing so the taxi drivers grievances are recognized. What the taxi drivers are fighting to change is their 72-84 hour work week, $8 an hour which includes tips, no health insurance, the many who experience severe back and leg pain and other health related conditions caused by long hours of driving. The cab companies also have been forcing drivers to pay large annual amounts to keep their driving privileges. Silassie has experienced, all these issues as well as retaliation from cab companies for speaking out.

Co-Founder Sentayehu Silassie
About the co-founder Sentayehu Silassie, who is an Ethiopian immigrant who has driven over 18 years as a taxi driver in Los Angeles, CA. He is also an organizing member and a staff coordinator for LATWA. In 2007 Silassie was fired after speaking out at a city council meeting about the poverty wages, health issues, and working conditions that taxi drivers face. Before Silassie was a community leader in America, he attended police college in Ethiopia and became a lieutenant but after opposing the dictatorship controlling his people, he fled to Sudan. At age 27 he came to the United States and experienced the racism in the South, but was able to move to Los Angeles where he became a security guard. He also attended Cal State Los Angeles for a degree in business and graduated in 1988. At this time he also began driving a cab as a lease driver and was then able to buy his own cab. With years in the industry Silassie recognized the oppression and sought to make connections with others for change, which is how LATWA began. Silassie has stood against oppression throughout his life and has continued his fight for his fellow taxi drivers, making him a recognized leader and helping him to accomplish many transformative acts in the taxi industry.