Bhairavi Desai (pronounced BY-ra-vee They-SIGH) is a founding member of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a

union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

representing approximately 15,000 taxi drivers in

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. She is known as a

progressive Progressive may refer to: Politics * Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform ** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context * Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...

social activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

, including her efforts for social justice for the "

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, and

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solidarity movements".

Early life

Desai was born in

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, and came with her parents to

Harrison Harrison may refer to: People * Harrison (name) * Harrison family of Virginia, United States Places In Australia: * Harrison, Australian Capital Territory, suburb in the Canberra district of Gungahlin In Canada: * Inukjuak, Quebec, or "Po ...

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, when she was six years old. Her father was a lawyer in India, but was unable to find work in the legal profession, consequently finding work at a grocery store.Wadler, Joyce
"PUBLIC LIVES; An Unlikely Organizer as Cabdrivers Unite"
''

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'', December 8, 1999. Accessed December 30, 2007. She received a degree in Women's Studies from

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...

and following that, worked at

Manavi Manavi ( ka, მანავი) is a village in the Georgian province of Kakheti. It is famous for its yellowish green wine, Manavis Mtsvane. In Georgia, wine drinking is central to the culture and is especially recommended for long celebrations. ...

, the South Asian women's organization in New Jersey that worked with victims of

domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...

. She then moved to working for the rights of Asian workers by joining the Committee Against Asian American Violence in 1996. In 1998, she and others set up the NYTWA with an initial membership of 700 workers. She currently resides in the

Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

, where her husband Victor Salazar, is also a

union activist A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (su ...

Work with taxi drivers

Her first success came in May 1998 when the first strike in thirty years was called by the

yellow cab Yellow cab taxicab operators exist all around the world (some with common heritage, some without). The original Yellow Cab Company, based in Chicago, Illinois, was one of the largest taxicab companies in the United States. History Yellow cab ...

s. Over 90% of New York taxi drivers joined the strike to protest against unfair regulations, medical checkups and health insurance for the drivers. Despite being a woman in an overwhelmingly male-dominated industry, many taxi drivers respect her. Desai and the TWA were involved in initiating new regulations (2011) by the

New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

regarding the lucrative business of rooftop ads on taxis. These highly visible and mobile advertisements generate income for the medallion owners but are considered a burden by the taxi owners who work for them: drivers have never had a voice in their selection nor a stake in their revenue. In recent years, many of the rooftop signs have caused controversy by promoting businesses in adult entertainment. According to the new act, drivers who own their own vehicles are now permitted ultimate veto power over any advertisements that they can "reasonably" regard as "inappropriate". In a longer view, Desai anticipates that this act serves as "a step toward ultimately requiring medallion owners to give some of the revenue from taxi-roof advertisements to vehicle owners."

Other activities

Desai received the

Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford, it was originally funded by a US$25,000 gift from Edsel Ford. By 1947, after the death ...

Leadership for a Changing World Award in 2005. She was a regular contributor to forums and events at the Marxist

Brecht Forum The Brecht Forum was an independent Marxist educational and cultural center in Brooklyn, New York, named after German writer Bertolt Brecht. Throughout the years, the Forum offered a wide-ranging program of classes, public lectures and seminars, ...

References

External links

Bhairavi Desai materials in the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)
* Bhairavi Desai at

CUNY Graduate Center The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York (CUNY Graduate Center) is a public research institution and post-graduate university in New York City. Serving as the principal doctorate-granting institution of the Ci ...

Activist Women's Voices The Activist Women's Voices collection is an oral history project of 35 women activists who worked in community-based organizations in the New York City area. The project covers the period from 1995 to 2000 and was a project of The City University ...

oral history project �
finding aid
{{DEFAULTSORT:Desai, Bhairavi Indian emigrants to the United States People from Harrison, New Jersey People from Jersey City, New Jersey Activists from New York City Rutgers University alumni Living people Activist Women's Voices oral history project American people of Gujarati descent American people of Indian descent American businesspeople Businesswomen from Gujarat Year of birth missing (living people) Asian-American trade unionists 21st-century American women

Early life

Work with taxi drivers

Other activities

See also

References

External links