Yellow Checker Star cabbies reject second contract offer
Drivers at Yellow Checker Star Transportation, Las Vegas’ second-largest taxi company, voted overwhelmingly to reject a second contract offer and set the stage for a possible strike.
According to the Monday night tally by officials of the Industrial Technical Professional Employees Union, about 70 percent of more than 1,100 drivers marked “no” on their ballots during two days of voting. While the proposed four-and-a-half year contract contained some improvements from the one turned down in November, drivers were still unhappy about the lack of basic pay improvements.
At this point, said Paul Bohelski, a senior international representative for the union, local official will consult with the head office on how to proceed. He declined to outline what course of action might be taken, but drivers have already authorized a strike.
Yellow Checker Star holds one-fourth of the taxi operating permits, known as medallions, that have been issued in Las Vegas. However, about 400 of Yellow Checker Star’s 1,740 drivers do not belong to the union, so it is difficult to gauge the impact a strike would have.
Contact reporter Tim O’Reiley at toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.
