Hundreds of U.S. ride-hailing employees plan to park their automobiles and picket at main U.S. airports Wednesday in what organizers say is their largest strike but in a drive for higher pay and advantages.
Uber and Lyft drivers plan daylong strikes in Chicago; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Miami; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Windfall, Rhode Island. Drivers additionally plan to carry noon demonstrations at airports in these cities, in response to Justice for App Employees, the group organizing the trouble.
Rachel Gumpert, a spokesperson for Justice for App Employees, mentioned ride-hailing drivers in different cities can also reveal or strike for at the least a part of the day.
Uber mentioned Tuesday it doesn’t count on the strike to have a lot impression on its operations on Valentine’s Day.
“Some of these occasions have not often had any impression on journeys, costs or driver availability,” Uber mentioned in a press release. “That’s as a result of the overwhelming majority of drivers are happy.”
Gumpert described ride-hailing as a “cell sweatshop,” with some employees routinely placing in 60 to 80 hours per week. Justice for App Employees, which says it represents 130,000 ride-hailing and supply employees, is in search of increased wages, entry to well being care and an appeals course of so corporations can’t deactivate them with out warning.
Gumpert mentioned final 12 months’s strikes at U.S. automakers — which led to extra profitable contracts for his or her unionized employees — helped embolden ride-hailing employees.
“It’s extremely inspiring. When one employee rises up, it brings braveness to a different employees,” Gumpert mentioned.
However ride-hailing corporations say they already pay a good wage.
Earlier this month, Lyft mentioned it started guaranteeing that drivers will make at the least 70% of their fares every week, and it lays out its charges extra clearly for drivers in a brand new earnings assertion. Lyft additionally unveiled a brand new in-app button that lets drivers attraction deactivation selections.
“We’re consistently working to enhance the driving force expertise,” Lyft mentioned in a press release. Lyft mentioned its U.S. drivers make a mean of $30.68 per hour, or $23.46 per hour after bills.
Uber mentioned its U.S. drivers make a mean of $33 per hour. The corporate additionally mentioned it permits drivers to dispute deactivations.
