Excluded Worker Project
The Excluded Worker Project is grounded in the belief that all workers have a fundamental human right to labor under equitable working conditions and to receive livable earnings. To this end, EWP partners with taxicab drivers to provide high quality technical assistance designed to strengthen cabdrivers' ability to take the lead in redefining the value of their labor and their rights as workers.
Cabdrivers, who are commonly classified as independent contractors, do not receive basic worker protections or benefits--such as sick leave and health or workers compensation insurance. Despite this classification, however, most cabdrivers must pay their parent cab company a daily or weekly fee for use of a company-owned cab and/or a company-owned credential (such as a medallion) that allows an ordinary car to be used as a cab. These fees commonly amount to more than 50 percent of drivers' annual earnings which the U.S. Department of Labor places at $21,000 or $34,000 for the highest 10%.
At the foundation of EWP is the participatory reform model successfully applied by cabdrivers in Alexandria, VA (2003-2005) and Prince George's County MD (2007-2010). This reform model was developed by EWP founder M. Aurora Vasquez, J.D., a former community based civil rights attorney with more than decade of experience in the immigrant justice, workers, and voting rights fields.
We're delighted to serve Aurora and her partners as they work together to empower cabdrivers. We provide ongoing fiscal sponsorship, administrative support and consulting aimed at helping them achieve fairer and more just working conditions. Please follow her blog at http://www.excludedworkerproject.org/
You can make a tax deductible contribution to Excluded Worker Project by using the 'Donate' button below, or you send a check payable to 'Excluded Worker Project' to:
Visions Made Viable
17595 Harvard Ave.
Suite C235
Irvine, CA 92614
Be sure to save the email you receive from PayPal as your receipt. Contributions made to or for Excluded Worker Project are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Excluded Worker Project and its fiscal sponsor Visions Made Viable provide no goods or services for your contribution.