transport unions
Transport unions often feature in the DR1 Daily News reports and it seems they are major players in the Dominican economy and political scene.
However it appears that these are not "unions" as we understand the term in the UK, bodies dedicated to protecting and furthering the interest of employees, but rather employers' cartels. Have I understood that correctly? Of course if the majority of the members are "owner/drivers" they would, in a sense, be both.
Could any knowledgable person briefly describe the makeup of these unions? (I understand there are at least two, which sometimes co-operate and sometimes compete with other). Who comprise the membership (owners, management, employees, or all of these)? What forms of transport are covered? It does not seem, for example, that buses are in one union and carritos publicos in another, for example.
I am particularly interest in publicos. Are these operated by large multi-vehicle companies, single vehicle owner-drivers, franchises, co-operatives, or what?
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