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Hilton Protest on Hold
Pending Outcome of Talks
A planned cab driver protest at the Hilton Hotel was postponed after the hotel agreed to meet with taxi drivers to discuss the steering of passengers into limousines.
The meeting was arranged at the request of the Hilton Protest Coalition, a drivers’ committee consisting of representatives of United Taxicab Workers (UTW), the Bay Area Taxi Drivers Association (BATDA) and unaffiliated drivers. It took place at the hotel on July 20.

Represented at the meeting were UTW, BATDA, the Permit Drivers Association (PDA), cab companies, Hilton management, the Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT) and the Taxi Commission, in the person of its vice-president, Patricia Breslin. Breslin is also executive director of the Hotel Council of San Francisco.

Taxi representatives asked the Hilton to end the practice of doormen steering passengers into limousines for long rides. Participants insisted that all limousine bookings be legally prearranged from inside the hotel.

Abuse of the white zones along the hotel curb was also discussed. The city limits white zone use to a maximum of five minutes for purposes of picking up or dropping off. DPT says it is now enforcing white zone restrictions at hotels, but violations continue to occur. (See photos.)

After a two-day driver protest in 2003, the Hilton agreed to prohibit white zone misuse, but immediately went back on its word and ignored the agreement.
The Hilton asked for time to respond to issues raised at the meeting. A second meeting is anticipated for early August to discuss the Hilton’s response.
If the Hilton does not end the practice of steering passengers into limousines, the protest against the hotel will go forward. Further protests are planned at other hotels where steering takes place.
click here to read article Summer 2003