Reza Hosseinioun, head of the iTaxiworkers Association, says the protesters aren't asking Mayor John Tory to shut down Uber. Rather, they're striking because they say the popular ride-sharing app, in its current iteration, is operating illegally. "Make them follow the law," he says. "That's all we're saying."
While the small group of protestors came prepared with a roomy tent and sleeping pads, it's unclear how long they'll be able to keep house in Nathan Phillips Square. Hosseinioun notes the drivers are on a hunger strike because they feel as if they've run out of options in terms of dealing with City Hall.
Hosseinioun says the strike will continue until December 9. If nothing changes by then, he claims that Toronto's taxi drivers will shut down the city.
This isn't the first time taxi drivers have threatened a European or Ottawa-style shut down. On September 30, city council voted to start looking at the possibility of regulating Uber. A report is due back in spring 2016.
Photo via Don Peat on Twitter.
by Amy Grief via blogTO
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