Thousands of drivers for ride-sharing platforms Uber, Lyft and food delivery app DoorDash are expected to go on strike across the United States on Valentine’s Day for fair pay, drivers’ groups said on Monday. Ride-sharing platforms Uber, Lyft and Food delivery app DoorDash drivers plan to walk off the job Wednesday in a Valentine’s Day demonstration to protest lower pay and unsafe working conditions.
Strike for fair pay
The demonstrations or strike for fair pay are set to take place about a week after Lyft said it would guarantee weekly earnings for drivers. This would be a first in the U.S. ride-sharing industry as it looks to lure more drivers to its platform.
“We are constantly working to improve the driver experience,” as per Lyft, which is set to report quarterly results on Tuesday.
Ride-sharing platforms high commission
The drivers, considered independent contractors, have accused the Ride-sharing platforms of taking disproportionately high amounts as commissions.
“This is the biggest strike I’ve ever seen, thousands and thousands of drivers … it’s going to be nationwide,” Jonathan Cruz, a driver in Miami and part of the Justice For App Workers coalition, which represents more than 100,000 drivers.
As per Uber only a minority of its drivers participate in such strikes, which rarely have an impact on business.
Uber earnings report
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said last week on an earnings call with analysts that drivers in the U.S. earned about $33 per utilized hour in the fourth quarter.
Many drivers sign up with these firms to supplement their income from other jobs. Though some drive full time for the ride-sharing platforms.
“A year into algorithmic pricing, drivers have seen incredible decrease of our pay… whatever calculations and algorithms they’re using, it’s absolutely useless.” Nicole Moore, president of the California-based Rideshare Drivers United union, told Reuters on Sunday.
Drivers earnings
As per Gridwise, which analyzes gig mobility data. in 2023, Uber drivers’ monthly average gross earnings fell to 17.1%. The data showed gross earnings of Lyft drivers increased by 2.5%.
“By not paying drivers a livable wage, drivers are barely able to afford the bare necessities,” said Shantwan Humphrey, a driver in Dallas, Texas.
DoorDash did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As the strike looms, Food delivery app DoorDash, another major player in the gig economy, did not respond to a request for comment for any impending action.
