Bhairavi Desai: Visionary Organizer and Progressive Leader of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance

"When you realize how many enemies you have, you realize your potential for power" - Bhairavi Desai

Every day in NYC one million people are served by taxi drivers. Bhairavi Desai, the opening plenary speaker for the 39th Summer School for Union Women held at Queen's College in NY has been organizing taxi drivers since 1996. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of the 17,000 member New York Taxi Workers Alliance since 1998. Taxi drivers are one of the most vulnerable workforces in the city of NY. High risk, drivers are 60 times more likely to be assaulted or killed on the job. In 2012, NYTWA won a liveable income raise, first-time regulations of taxi companies, and a Health and Disability Fund for drivers. The first for taxi drivers nationwide and one of the first for independent contractors. In 2011, NYTWA was chartered to build the National Taxi Workers Alliance, the 57th union of the AFL-CIO.  The NTWA is the first charter for non-traditional workers since the farm workers in the 1960's, and the first one ever of independent contractors.  NYTWA has increased drivers' incomes by 35%-45%, secured over $15 million in emergency aid to drivers, and provided pro bono or discounted legal, financial management and health services to over 10,000 drivers and families.

Ms. Desai was drawn to this industry when she saw how hard drivers worked to survive under such difficult conditions.  99% male, this workforce of mostly immigrant, independent contractors start each day at a negative balance, often working 60 hours or more per week. Because drivers work all shifts, Ms. Desai would organize until 3am or 4am in the morning sharing with them how a union is an anti-poverty vehicle, and building a culture of mutual respect and solidarity.  In 1998, drivers went on strike and management fought back hard, spreading malicious gossip about her character, objectifying and sexualizing her actions. Ms. Desai reflected on these challenging moments by stating, "Feminism taught us that we do not need to internalize these attacks, but analyse the lack of value of the people who perpetuate these things."  As she gave examples of some of the tricks that management used (such as distribute publications that encouraged looking for fares near stripper places) she went on to say, “These publications dehumanize and objectify women. If you cannot recognize the humanity of women, you cannot recognize the humanity of anyone."

Recently, a driver was hit in the back by a drunk driver and killed.  He had two sons and a wife in India.  The union brought the family to the United States for the funeral, fighting hard to make it possible as the man was an undocumented worker.  For the first time in thirteen years, the wife and sons saw their father, in his casket.  Through tears, the son said in pride, "This is my father's union! They made it possible to see him."