New Haven Independent

On Tuesday night at Gateway Community College, in a conference room designed for 20, Antoine Scott explained the incident in which he was fired. Attorney Gregory J. Gallo (pictured below, third from right) entertained questions and complaints for two hours, as the drivers rallied shoulder to shoulder to discuss a plan of action against a multitude of grievances.

The word “strike” was mentioned only a few times, and only in thoughtful reactions and questions regarding such action. The focus of the meeting was to unite and start to construct a plan; the goal being a successful dialogue between the drivers and the owner of Metro Taxi, Bill Scalzi.

Attorney Gallo had read an article in the morning Register concerning the plight of the drivers and only hours before the meeting contacted Scott (pictured above with raised hand), a large, optimistic man who seemed to grab control of the often boisterous room with the slightest of ease. The two stood at the front of the room and presided over a meeting that was very much like 50 friends trying to solve a large problem.

“Disrespect, loss of income, and control. Those three words are things that these drivers are facing. They are being disrespected; they are having rules unfairly implemented by the owner of Metro Taxi,” said Scott. “Our main goal right now is to have Metro Taxi abide by their contract…They are picking and choosing which rules they implement.”

He gave an example of a breach of contract by Scalzi.

“Our contract states we have until 5 p.m. to pay our lease. All of the sudden he says that he wants us to pay it at 1 pm. Now drivers don’t make enough money by 1 p.m. to pay the lease, and their computer terminals get shut off and they can’t get jobs until the next day. Who do you go to?”

Scalzi did not return calls requesting comment Wednesday. In a statement released to the Register, he detailed investments he has made “to ensure that our drivers enjoy a safe, supportive work environment and a good quality of life.” Those investments reportedly included installing cameras in cabs, giving drivers new IDs that double as ATM cards, and improving a vehicle loaner program so drivers can continue working when their cabs are in the shop.

Lease fees “appropriately reflect the current cost of doing business in Connecticut,” Scalzi was quoted as saying.

Throughout the meeting, drivers stood up and delivered speeches, which were met with applause, however, no driver would divulge his name, in fear of losing his job. Scott’s story substantiates the concerns.

“We are not against Scalzi. We are not against the company. We need to come together as a whole, congregate, and there is our power, and we can tell this guy, enough is enough, we want to negotiate. Everyone in this room has someone that is very close to him in this job. Changes will come when he knows that there is a unity, a togetherness,” said one driver.

“We have a problem, we have to talk. I do not agree with a strike. We are here for the community, and they are here for my income. I know everybody here like my brother,” said another driver, very soft spoken, and the room quieted to hear him speak.

“We want to let him know that when he is pushing Antoine, he is pushing us, we need to make sure he knows that everyone here is unhappy,” said a different driver.

The crux of the issue is that lack of alternatives. There are no other cab companies in New Haven. Cabbies technically are “independent contractors.”

“As an independent contractor, who can you go to? Either it’s you can follow their law, or you leave, and since there are no other taxi companies around here, who are you going to drive for?” asked Scott.

According to Scott, he was fired for his involvement in the Metro Taxi drivers’ push for change within the company. Scalzi called him into his office to discuss a minor infraction, the specificity of which was not explained to Antoine. During their meeting, a livery van was deliberately parked behind Scott’s cab, blocking it in the garage. Scott left Metro Taxi for the last time, and he maintains that the company still owes him money, they promised to mail, the day he was fired.

“We want to let him know that when he is pushing Antoine, he is pushing us. We need to make sure he knows that everyone here is unhappy,” said a driver.

Later in the meeting, a younger driver stood up and addressed the room and Antoine.

“By him [Scalzi] doing that to Antoine he thought that that would squash everything. Well I got news for him. Antoine is going to spend all of his days working on this issue, if we can put together 10 dollars each a week, so that his family eats,” said the driver.

This was met with passionate applause, and the drivers immediately began searching for their wallets, throwing money in the middle of the table.

The meeting adjourned with an agreement to remain a strong unified force, but no decision in terms of immediate action. Attorney Gallo intends to request a meeting with Scalzi. The drivers know it will be a grueling process, but assured themselves they were prepared for a grind. Scott ended the meeting with a thank you and a promise.

“I am committed 100 percent. I will not go away. This is just not for you. This is for people after you. I am committed to equality, to fairness, to respect, and we will achieve it. It’s not if, it’s when.”

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