Drivers at Western Cab Co. have become the seventh Southern Nevada taxi company employee group to join the United Steelworkers Union.
Hussein Abdelgilil, president of USW Local 711A, said contract negotiations would begin soon on behalf of the 280 Western Cab drivers now affiliated with the union.
The USW, the larger of two unions that represent drivers employed at Southern Nevada taxi companies, also works with Ace Cab, Virgin Valley Cab, A-North Las Vegas Cab, Union Cab, Whittlesea Cab and Bell Transportation Co.’s limousine and shuttle services. Abdelgilil said the USW represents more than 3,000 drivers in Southern Nevada.
The USW also represents drivers in other U.S. and Canadian cities, including Boston and Hamilton, Ontario.
Other cab drivers are represented locally by the Industrial Technical Professional Employees Union.
Abdelgilil said employment contract issues would center on providing health care programs, pensions and reimbursements for higher gasoline prices.
Unions typically represent drivers’ interests in cab allocation requests before the Nevada Taxicab Authority. Union representatives generally oppose most allocation requests because they feel more cabs on the streets dilute individual earning potential.