Snubbed by City Council, San Jose Taxi Drivers Return to Work After 2-Day Strike

Taxi drivers returned to work Wednesday after a two-day strike failed to go in their favor.

Ride-booking services such as Lyft, Uber and Sidecar will be able to operate at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport under revisions approved Tuesday by the San Jose City Council.

The council unanimously approved the modifications — opposed by taxi drivers — that allow ride-booking companies to conduct business at the airport under requirements including background checks through the California Public Utilities Commission, which doesn't require drivers' fingerprints.

The ride-booking service drivers will also need to obtain city business licenses. If they pass vehicle inspections that meet regulations from San Jose police or the CPUC, they can have restrictions waived on their car's age and mileage.

Ride-booking service drivers will be subject to a random 1 percent audit once a month so airport officials can check their licenses and look into any violations such as outstanding warrants.

Around 300 taxi drivers protested against the revised plan for the companies and demanded that all ride-booking service drivers obtain fingerprint checks, San Jose Airport Taxi Driver Association president Shakur Buni said.

The taxi drivers didn't offer rides to customers at the airport Monday, Buni said. The group also gathered outside City Hall Tuesday and voiced its concerns before attending the City Council meeting.

Many ride-booking service drivers from Lyft and Uber also attended Tuesday's meeting to inform council members of customer demand for service to the airport and measures they have taken to provide safe rides.

However, taxi drivers called for the council to stick with a pilot program approved in June, which featured stricter requirements for ride-booking service drivers, including submitting fingerprints. They also claimed that they are being charged far more than ride-booking companies per ride at the airport.