New York City taxi drivers have something to celebrate. Starting in September, they will receive a long-awaited raise, reported The New York Times.

“Today is a day of celebration,” said Bhairavi Desai, the executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission voted on Thursday to raise taxi fares by an average of 17 percent. This is the first increase in eight years.

The majority of the higher fares will go directly to the taxi drivers whose wages have stagnated for years. The increase will help maintain their cost of living.

David S. Yassky, the chairman of the taxi commission, said:

Taxi drivers have been working hard for six years with no raise….There comes a time you need to make sure people can earn a decent living.

Read the entire New York Times piece here.

Learn more about the New York Taxi Workers Alliance here.