December 18th, 2009 – Taxi Drivers Strike! A few weeks later they meet with the Employee Rights Center (ERC), and ERC pledges to help organize
February 2010 – UTWSD Founded as a 501(c)(4)
Summer 2010 – UTWSD begins first lobbying campaign at MTS, the Airport, the Taxi Advisory Committee (TAC), and the San Diego Public Safety and Neighborhood Service (PSNS)
Summer 2010 – UTWSD launches first major campaign to reform driver representation on the TAC
June 2011 – UTWSD wins equal representation between lease-holders and permit-holders on the TAC
November 2011 – 1st TAC elections result in 2 UTWSD members elected as lease driver representatives
February 2012 – Airport Drivers strike over new Airport plan for front-of-line privileges
Spring 2012 – Under pressure from drivers, the Airport halts plans for front-of-line privileges, and $.38 fee
July 2012 – UTWSD formally joins the San Diego Labor Council as an AFL-CIO affiliated Worker’s Center
August 2012 – UTWSD participates in UCSD health survey of taxi drivers, publishes findings
September 2012 – “Lift the Cap” campaign starts, candidates for elected office pledge action
November 2012 – UTWSD and the Labor Council mobilize the African immigrant communities to vote in the Presidential General Election
March 2013 – The new Mayor of San Diego announces plan to “Lift the Cap” on taxi permits
May 2013 – SDSU & the Center On Policy Initiatives (CPI) release the “Driven to Despair” Study on taxi
November 10th, 2014 – The “Lift the Cap” campaign is successful by a 8-1 vote at City Council! Drivers can now get vehicle permits directly from MTS
March 2015 -UTWSD works with MTS and City Council to update rules for new owner-operators
April 1st, 2015 – MTS begins distribution of new “4000- series” permits
August 2015 – United Dispatch is launched
July 2016 – Driver-Members ask UTWSD to champion equality between “Airport” and “City” drivers. UTWSD launches campaign to open the Airport permit process
2017 – UTWSD fights to reduce MTS fines for drivers
2018 – UTWSD helps reduce taxi driver insurance requirements in San Diego and at the Airport
2019 – UTWSD joins the 6-member Airport Ground Transportation Ad-Hoc Committee on permits
2020 – UTWSD becomes a voting member of TAC
Spring 2020 – UTWSD assists with hundreds of EDD, rental assistance, and small business grant applications during the COVID-19 pandemic
Summer 2020 – UTWSD Participates in Census Outreach with Engage San Diego Partners
Throughout 2020 – UTWSD distributes thousands of boxes of food and diapers to those in-need
June 2020 – The Airport Board agrees to open up the Airport Permitting Process to all taxi drivers
November 2021 – United Taxi Co-Operative Founded by UTWSD and 6 Driver-Members, with partners the Democracy At Work Institute & the UCSD Design Lab
January 2021 – The Airport opens permit process, UTWSD assists with drivers’ applications & questions
