EDITORIAL: Hailing cabdrivers

Hats off to the union cabdrivers who exercised their constitutional rights in a peaceful, dignified manner Friday on the Strip to protest the passage of legislation that will allow transportation network companies to operate in Nevada.

As reported last week by the Review-Journal’s Richard Velotta and Ricardo Torres, fewer than 100 drivers for Yellow Checker Star, Clark County’s second-largest cab company, marched on Las Vegas Boulevard near Caesars Palace to denounce ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, which connect passengers with drivers using a smartphone app. They delivered their message in a way that was respectful to their targets, themselves and visitors alike.

The Industrial, Technical and Professional Employees Union Local 4873 had called for a work stoppage as part of the demonstration, an action that would have caused major disruptions within the resort corridor and damaged the experience of thousands of Las Vegas visitors, not to mention the city’s brand itself. The cabdrivers could have followed the disgraceful lead of the Culinary Local 226, which as part of its efforts to organize the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas and Station Casinos properties has had members hurl horrible insults at tourists, block pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and harass convention attendees to discourage them from doing business. Instead, the drivers took the high road.

“It was one of the union’s finest hours,” said Bill Shranko, chief operating officer of Yellow Checker Star. “It couldn’t have gone any better and I couldn’t have been more pleased. They made the points they needed to make about Uber without giving Las Vegas a black eye.”

Are you paying attention, Culinary Local 226?

The sparse attendance at Friday’s protest and the lack of reaction to it told a separate story: The welcomed arrival of a passenger transit revolution. There is overwhelming demand for Uber, a wildly popular service that operated briefly in Nevada last year before being shut down by transportation regulators. In fact, the lack of cabdriver turnout Friday suggests that untold numbers of them plan to use their own vehicles to become independent Uber drivers. They’ll become their own bosses and drive where and when they want, instead of waiting in long lines at hotels and the airport.

Friday’s protest was more about the survival of the union, which needs a heavily regulated cab industry to remain viable. By enabling transportation network companies to operate in Nevada, the Nevada Legislature sided with consumer choice and competition, which improve service and reduce costs.

We hope Friday’s protest sets a new tone for union activity across Nevada. No cause is worth harming the local economy.