Some taxi drivers plan to put their vehicles in park to protest GPS tracking systems getting installed in taxis.
The New York City Taxi Workers Alliance, formed in 1998, said it is trying to address privacy issues with a planned September strike. The strike would primarily affect service in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn.
New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers union spokesman FernandoMateo joined Matthew Daus, the commissioner of the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission, Thursday to express criticism of the planned strike.
"Our member drivers that have installed GPS get better tips, drive longer rides and get places more efficiently," Mateo said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that some believe that providing better service to the public is a disadvantage."The TLC has said most of the city's licensed yellow cab drivers will have installed the device, which includes maps and credit card machines for customers, before February 2008.