Thousands of rideshare drivers affiliated with Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash are set to stage a nationwide strike on Valentine’s Day, demanding fair compensation for their services, according to FOX Business.
The Justice for App Workers coalition, representing over 100,000 drivers, declared the strike, accusing the ride-sharing companies of offering unjust wages and retaining a significant portion of their commissions.
The coalition released a statement asserting that rideshare drivers should not have to grapple
with financial instability and urged app companies to address their concerns. The coalition highlighted the drivers’ challenges, including long working hours, safety concerns, and the constant fear of deactivation with the click of a button.“We’re sick of working 80 hours/week just to make ends meet,” the coalition emphasized. The strike comes in the wake of Lyft’s recent announcement guaranteeing weekly earnings for drivers, a move seen as an effort to attract more drivers to the platform.
“We are constantly working to improve the driver experience,” said Lyft in a statement, citing recent initiatives aimed at increasing driver pay and transparency. Uber, dismissing the impact of such strikes, mentioned that only a minority of its drivers participate in such actions. Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, reported that drivers in the U.S. earn an average of $33 per utilized hour in the fourth quarter.
Last year, statistics from Gridwise, a gig mobility data analysis firm, revealed a 17.1% drop in Uber drivers’ monthly average gross earnings, while Lyft drivers experienced a 2.5% increase.
Demonstrations are slated to take place across various cities, including Austin, Chicago, Hartford, Newark, Miami, Orlando, and Philadelphia. Jonathan Cruz, a driver in Miami and part of the Justice For App Workers coalition, described it as the “biggest strike” he has witnessed.
Nicole Moore, president of the California-based Rideshare Drivers United union,
criticized the algorithmic pricing implemented by these companies, highlighting the drastic decrease in driver pay. Shantwan Humphrey, a driver in Dallas, emphasized the struggle for a livable wage, noting that drivers can barely afford the bare necessities.RELATED CONTENT: A State-by-State Breakdown of the Gender Wage Gap