October 2022 Newsletter: Important October updates. Get the details!

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Only 3,000 More Signatures to Win: Sign On to Make Sure Rideshare Drivers are Exempted from the NY Congestion Tax 

Last month, IDG members from across the five boroughs and greater New York area came together in front of the MTA to send a clear message: rideshare drivers can’t afford more taxes and fees! But we need to continue fighting to ensure rideshare drivers are completely exempt from the proposed second congestion tax. Make sure Governor Hochul and all our state leaders hear your voices. Sign and share our petition today.

A new tax on rideshare drivers will devastate the livelihoods of thousands of hardworking immigrants and take away affordable transportation options from New Yorkers. If you haven’t already, please sign IDG’s petition today 

Already Signed the “Don’t Tax Us Twice” Petition? Help us Reach 10K Signatures by Sharing on Facebook Now!

Millions of people ride with app-based and black car drivers every day. Thousands of drivers work full-time and yet have seen their wages drop dramatically over the past 5 years. Neither riders nor drivers can afford a second congestion tax on rideshare. If you already signed our petition, please make sure we reach our goal of 10,000 signatures and share the petition now.

Stay Safe This Fall. Get Your Free Flu Shots at Walgreens and Duane Reade!

This fall and winter, our goal is to protect drivers and riders alike by reducing the spread of illness. A single driver can transport more than a dozen riders per day. A flu shot can help protect a driver from illness so that they can continue working and protect their family and their passengers. That’s why IDG is proud to offer free flu shots starting October 15.

All IDG members of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Illinois and Drivers Benefits members in New York will automatically get a free flu shot voucher sent to their email, which can be redeemed at any participating Walgreens or Duane Reade. If you can’t find your voucher, make sure you check your spam folder. For more help, call us at 866-471-3603. Drivers who are not yet members of IDG (CT, IL, MA, NJ) or Drivers Benefits (NY) should visit driversguild.org for further details. At IDG, we’re always fighting to keep you safe!

Driver Spotlight: Meet Massachusetts IDG Member LaTonya Brown 

Massachusetts driver LaTonya Brown began working for Uber in the fall of 2021. But in March of the following year, she was deactivated. “It was the strangest thing. I got a call saying they did a background check and my app has been deactivated. I contacted Uber, then contacted Checker. But they had the wrong information. I was able to drive but none of the departments said they could do anything about the mix-up. It was shocking. I was thinking ‘I brought money to you guys and you’re treating me as if I had never even worked for you. I should be considered one of the stakeholders in the business.’”

LaTonya became incredibly frustrated with Uber and their inability to give her a straight answer. “No departments were communicating with each other. It was a script reading. It was the inability to problem-solve that really got to me. I sent over the documentation and proof that everything was long resolved. I called them every week from March to August 2022.”

To make matters worse, LaTonya was renting her vehicle at the time. “It was horrible. I had to move out of a place in Cambridge. I had to stay with friends, going house to house.” But in her despair, she decided to reach out to the Massachusetts Independent Drivers Guild for help.

“I reached out to Mazar and Lisa with IDG. And they reached out to Uber. They continued to follow up with me for weeks. And then IDG called me and said that my account was going to be active again. I got my job back. And through the whole process, I felt this comradery, like ‘hey, let us know how we can support you.'”

“It took me a while to get around to getting back on my feet. But I was able to get out of the hole I was in, and finally, in September, I got an apartment on campus. That would not have been possible without IDG’s support. I didn’t feel like anyone at Uber was advocating on my behalf. But IDG is there listening to drivers. I think the more we mobilize people, the better. They let me know, we are not alone in this.”

Happy Indigenous People’s Day! 

Indigenous Peoples Day was created to commemorate the contributions and resilience of Native peoples in the US. On this holiday, we recognize the current struggles faced by Native communities, as well as their importance to American history and culture.

Get Support

New Jersey Office Hours
NJ Drivers! We’re here to help you! Come see us at our New Jersey office.

New Jersey Independent Drivers Guild
154 Ridge Road
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

When: Thursdays
Time: 10AM to 2PM

Massachusetts Office Hours
MA Drivers! We are always here to help you. Visit us on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Caffe Nero
1047 Commonwealth Ave
Boston/Allston

When: Tuesdays
Time: 11AM – 3PM
 
Boston Logan Airport
When: Tuesdays
Time: 3:30PM – 5:30PM
 
Boston Logan Airport
When: Every other Wednesday
Time: 11:30AM – 1:30PM

New York Office Hours & Weekly Outreach
IDG’s NYC office is bigger and better than ever! Visit us:

New York Independent Drivers Guild
41-09 36th St #3
Queens, NY 11101

When: Monday – Friday
Time: 10AM – 4PM

Tuesday outreach will alternate between Brooklyn and the Bronx. Keep an eye on your inbox for each week’s location!

Brooklyn Outreach
2096 Coney Island Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11223

When: Every other Tuesday
Time: 11AM – 2PM

Queens Outreach
LaGuardia Airport
23rd Avenue and 90th Street
Queens, NY 11371

When: Wednesdays
Time: 1PM – 5PM

Bronx Outreach
1231 Lafayette Ave 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10474

When: Every other Tuesday
Time: 11AM – 2PM

Connecticut Office Hours
CT Drivers! IDG is here to help. Join us at our Connecticut office.

Connecticut Independent Drivers Guild
157 Church St
New Haven, CT 06510

When: Wednesdays
Time: 10AM to 6PM

Illinois Office Hours
IL Drivers! Have you visited our office yet? Come in and get support!

Illinois Independent Drivers Guild
114 W Higgins Rd
Park Ridge, IL 60068

Days and Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:30AM to 7PM
Friday 9:30 AM to 2 PM
Saturday – 12PM to 5 PM
Sunday- Appointment Only 
Not in CT, IL, MA, NJ, or NY? Contact us hereto speak with organizers about next steps. Reach out today – let’s organize in your state!

You can now read previous editions of the IDG Member Newsletter here!