Ride share drivers to strike on Valentine’s Day

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE MOST ROMANTIC DAY OF THE YEAR IS ALMOST HERE –

AND IF YOU AND YOUR VALENTINE ARE LOOKING TO CATCH A RIDE TO A FANCY RESTAURANT USING UBER OR LYFT – OR MAYBE A DATE IN WITH DOORDASH – YOUR PLANS COULD BE DERAILED BY A STRIKE.

THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS WORKING FOR THE RIDE SHARE COMPANIES AND FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES ARE WALKING OFF THE JOB WEDNESDAY.

(UBER DRIVER ON TIKTOK)

“yes, Valentine’s Day and we are not showing any love for uber that day.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

EVEN THOUGH THE WORKERS ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS – THEY SAY “WE’RE SICK OF WORKING 80 HOURS A WEEK JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET, BEING CONSTANTLY SCARED FOR OUR SAFETY, AND WORRYING ABOUT BEING DEACTIVATED WITH THE CLICK OF A BUTTON” ACCORDING TO JUSTICE FOR APP WORKERS WHICH REPRESENTS MORE THAN 130-THOUSAND RIDESHARE DRIVERS FROM THE EAST COAST TO MIDWEST.

THEY’RE HOLDING RALLIES OUTSIDE AIRPORTS AND UBER OFFICES IN SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES, INCLUDING – MIAMI, CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA – AND THEY SAY – THEY’RE NOT GIVING RIDES FROM AIRPORTS BETWEEN 11AM AND 1PM IN 10 CITIES.

(UBER DRIVER ON TIKTOK)

“So tomorrow is the big day. We are striking on that day, we need to stay home guys, don’t go out and drive, it is not worth it. You will ruin everything if you’re out there driving guys.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THEY’RE HOPING TO DISRUPT SERVICES DURING THE VALENTINES DAY HOLIDAY – AND BRING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY SAY ARE LOW WAGES – AS THEY ACCUSE THE RIDESHARE COMPANIES OF “TAKING DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH AMOUNTS AS COMMISSIONS.”

ACCORDING TO REUTERS, UBER DRIVERS’ MONTHLY AVERAGE GROSS EARNINGS FELL 17% LAST YEAR.

LYFT INCREASED 2.5% AND LAST WEEK, THE COMPANY RECENTLY PROMISED THEIR DRIVERS WOULD BE TAKING HOME 70% OF RIDER FARES AFTER EXTERNAL FEES.

LYFT DRIVERS WILL JOIN UBER DRIVERS AND THOSE WHO WORK FOR FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES… AS WORKERS PICKET FOR LIVING WAGES, A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, RELIABLE BATHROOM ACCESS, AND THE RIGHT TO FORM A UNION.

UBER SAID A PLANNED PROTEST LAST YEAR HAD NO EFFECT ON BUSINESS… AND A SPOKESPERSON SAID ONLY A MINORITY OF ITS DRIVER PARTICIPATE IN STRIKES.

THE COMPANY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING “DRIVER EARNINGS REMAIN STRONG, AND AS OF Q4 2023, DRIVERS IN THE U.S. WERE MAKING ABOUT $33 PER UTILIZED HOUR.”