Taxi Drivers Call for Equal Rights for All Drivers

Human Rights Tribunal to Hear 'Ambassador Plate' Complaint

TORONTO , Jan. 23 /CNW/ - Toronto taxi drivers are supporting their colleague Asafo Addai in his human rights case that seeks to end the discriminatory status of drivers with Ambassador Plates.

    
    WHAT:     Taxi driver hearing at Ontario Human Rights Tribunal

    WHO:      iTAXIWORKERS Association

    WHEN:     Monday, January 25, 2010, 10 a.m.

    WHERE:    Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, 14th Floor, 655 Bay Street
    

Asafo Addai is asking that the City of Toronto end its practice of two separate classes of plates, arguing all plates and plate-holders should enjoy equal rights.

The case will be heard by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, 14th Floor, 655 Bay Street, on Monday, January 25, 2010 , at 10 a.m.

More than 1,400 taxi drivers hold Ambassador Plate status in the City of Toronto .

"It is wrong that the Ambassador Plate does not have the same value or rights that are attached to Standard Plates," said Peter Leibovitch, Executive Director of the iTAXIWORKERS Association.

"If an Ambassador driver gets sick, he or she has to return the plate to the city, whereas the Standard Plate holders can hire any number of drivers," Leibovitch said. "This is wrong. At long last, this Tribunal will hear the continuing inequalities and lack of rights of the Ambassador Plate holders."

"It is not fair to have two classes of drivers in the same city," said Sajid Mughal, President of the Toronto Chapter of the iTAXIWORKERS Association. "A taxi driver is a taxi driver. We ought to be judged by the quality of our work, and nothing else."

For further information: Sajid Mughal, [phone]; Peter Leibovitch, [phone]