PROTEST PLIGHT
UBER DRIVERS STRIKE ON VALENTINE’S DAY OVER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Thousands of Uber and delivery drivers and riders in cities around the country turned off their apps for Deliveroo, UberEats, Just Eat and other food companies between 5-10pm on Valentine’s Day. It was co-ordinated through recently formed grass roots courier campaign “Delivery Job UK”. Similar action took place in the US by drivers for Uber, Lyft and food delivery companies. The strike aimed to draw attention to the drivers poor pay and working conditions. In Bristol, Uber cab drivers also joined the strike action. Around 40 gathered to protest outside Uber’s office, followed by a slow drive around the city centre The strike had been organised by the drivers themselves, to co- ordinate with the Valentine’s Day action of delivery workers. Drivers said they were striking due to a number of grievances with the company. Uber has put up the cost of journeys for customers, while cutting the share going to the drivers who actually make them possible. Yet the drivers bear the costs of running their cars, which have all risen, while Uber skims up to 40% off the fares. Flat fares mean they don’t get paid for waiting times and lose money while sitting in city traffic.
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Drivers also said that under Uber’s disciplinary procedures, they can be suspended and even dismissed on the basis of complaints, without them even being investigated. The strikers explained that, unfortunately, some customers make false claims against drivers in order to try and get free rides. App users were asked to support the strikers by not using the Uber app while the industrial action took place. A Bristol driver, who joined the walkout, said they expected many drivers to take part in the industrial action. A leaflet shared by the organisers explaining their demands states: “Join our strike and our protest to demand a decent livelihood and job security for all. “Our demands are a higher rate per mile, 15 per cent maximum commission, transparency of charges on customers, no fixed rate trips, 50 per cent surcharge on out of area trips and customers below a certain rating not being allowed to rate drivers. “No more unfair deactivation.” Dad-of-three Florin Talos - who has been an Uber driver for three and a half years - said: “I work many hours for little pay. I am working 50 to 60 hours every week and I am earning about £700. “I still need to pay for fuel then and my car insurance, which has gone up by 50 per cent. “I do not earn minimum wage when I take into account the costs of the car.” If working 60-hour a week, this would take his hourly rate to £11.60, before running costs. The current
minimum wage for people aged 23 and over is £10.42, but this will go up to £11.44 in April. Mr Talos - who has been on strike on three occasions already - claimed that Uber is taking a commission of up to 50 per cent, adding he now gets holiday pay but that prices are lower than two years ago. The driver said Uber doesn’t tell them how much a customer is paying for the ride, but that he now regularly asks them. The 36-year-old claimed that a customer recently told him he was paying £30 for the ride, while he was only going to earn £16. “But we need to take them [the rides] because otherwise we would not make money,” Mr Talos continued. “Drivers are very angry so that is why we have organised this protest. People are angry. I feel I have no option but to work for Uber - it is the one that most people use.” The Uber driver, from Kingswood, claimed that the company takes a much smaller commission on Friday and Saturdays, adding they would like this to be rolled out to other days of the week. Mr Talos said he often works up to 15 hours every Friday and Saturday.
MARCH 2024 PHTM
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