Taxi Drivers Rank and File Coalition.

The Taxi Driver's Rank and File Coalition, which consisted of disenchanted members of the New York City Taxi Driver's Union Local 3036, was organized on April 15, 1971.

The goals it attempted to achieve over its almost seven year life were a fair contract and a more democratic union. Members were opposed to what they saw as the autocracy of the founder of the union, Harry Van Arsdale Jr. They ran a full slate of candidates in the 1971 election and polled forty-two percent of the vote in an election in which they filed thirty-six counts of fraud with the Department of Labor.

In 1974, the Rank and File presented 2,500 signatures for the restoration of the committee elections. On May 14 and 15 of that year the Rank and File led a strike at the Dover Garage for unfair dismissals. After the dismissed were given back their jobs, the Rank and File fought the proposed fair hike of the Taxi Commission. After fighting all year for committee elections, the Rank and File got a favorable ruling in court for such an election. In June, the Rank and File won a susbstantial victory in the election, which was marred by irregularities; a new election was ordered.

In July of 1977, the Rank and File failed to run a slate of candidates in the election and ceased publication of the rank and file paper, "Hot Seat". The leaders of the Rank and File expressed their regret for not achieving greater victories in the fight against the established leaders of the union and cited their frustrations and fatigue in the fight for a more democratic union.

From the description of Oral histories [sound recording], 1976-1977. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 477250059