Las Vegas taxi strike talks show progress

There are signs of movement in the 6-week-old strike by Yellow Checker Star Transportation cabdrivers.

After a session overseen by a federal mediator on Wednesday, both union leaders and management acknowledged the possibility that they had narrowed their differences over pay and working conditions. Leaders of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, the parent of the union that has organized the drivers, will deliver a progress report to drivers today, but it is unclear whether there will be a vote.

Union steward Sam Moffitt said, “Hopefully we made some progress, but we are lukewarm about it.” He declined to give specifics about what had changed.

Yellow Checker Star Chief Operating Officer Bill Shranko said, “If the union keeps its promises, we may have made some progress.” He also did not give details.

Yellow Checker Star is the second-largest cab company in Las Vegas, holding one-fourth of the operating permits for local taxis. About 1,300 of the company’s 1,700 drivers belong to the Industrial Technical & Professional Employees Union Local 4873, which is part of the other union.

Contact reporter Tim O’Reiley at toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.