"Right now with the price of gas being over $4 and with the price of the lease that drivers have to pay, they're typically earning below minimum wage," said Bhairavi Desai, of the /*Taxi Workers Alliance*/.
The Taxi Workers Alliance says cabbies haven't had a raise in seven years and has asked the /*TLC*/ to approve the following increases:
- Mileage from $2.00 to $2.50 a mile
- The wait time from .40 to .50 a minute
- Increase the night surcharge by .50 cents
- And add a $1 surcharge - Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
"We need a raise because, like I said, I used to fill up for $35, now I pay $55 or $60 to fill up," said Chris Alexandropolous, a cab driver.
If you got stuck in traffic an extra 20 minutes that would be an extra $2.00.
The fare from /*Manhattan*/ to /*JFK*/ would be $10 more from $45 to $55.
"No I don't want to pay more," said Meryl Silver, an /*East Side*/ resident.
"Gas prices are up so they do deserve it," said Yakov Balakhovsky, a /*West Side*/ resident.
The TLC still has to approve the proposal.
In a written statement it says, "We've received the petition and will review it carefully and thoroughly."
"No, I don't want to pay more, I'm not getting a raise, it's not fair, I understand that they want to live, but we want to live too," said Marie Mills, a /*New Brunswick*/ resident.