- Uber and Lyft drivers across the country are planning protests on Valentine's Day, citing lower wages and other concerns.
- Drivers from around 20 cities are expected to participate.
- There have been several small-scale driver protests in U.S. cities over the past year.
You may have trouble finding a ride home valentine's day dinner.
Some Uber and Lyft drivers across the country plan to not drive on February 14 due to protests. reduction in salary In addition to other concerns about driver safety, they deactivation.
Organizers told Business Insider that drivers from about 20 cities, including San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Toronto and Vancouver, will participate in the protest, which will begin on February 14th. It is said that he will not be able to work inside.
Thorsten Kunert, a ride-hailing YouTuber who helped organize the protest, told BI: “There has never been a global live action protest where drivers have united around one cause.” “Over the past two years, there have been many isolated protests by motorists in various cities. This protest is unique.”
Drivers were drawn to Valentine's Day because the holiday usually sees higher demand for passengers. Organizers said it was difficult to estimate how many drivers would ultimately take part in the action.
Los Angeles driver advocacy group rideshare drivers unitedhas over 20,000 members throughout California. get together Outside of Uber's Greenlight hub. Last Friday, the group conducted a two-hour phone bank to spread information about the Valentine's Day protests.
“We're seeing a lot of fares that are way below what it costs to drive,” Nicole Moore, a part-time Lyft driver and president of Rideshare Drivers United, told BI. “There is a lot of activity happening all over the country.”
Frustrated drivers begin to take action
Dissatisfaction is growing among ride-hailing service drivers. Isolated protests have taken place in cities across the United States over the past year. san diego, atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, denver, new orleans, tampa bay, miami, Los Angelesand minneapolis.
Protesters have used a variety of tactics. get together Around major airports during peak travel seasons, or select On the day of Taylor Swift's concert, to make their absence felt. Most of the protests have centered on drivers' complaints about lower wages.
Several Uber and Lyft drivers told BI in recent months: ride-hailing service The profit is less than before. Many people have criticized the development of “.prepaid fare” program and a high supply of reduced-pay drivers. they again, Improved transparency How their salaries are calculated.
“For the last four weekends, I've made $21.50 per hour online before spending in Los Angeles,” says Sergio Abedian, part-time Uber driver and senior contributor to a gig driver advocacy blog and YouTube channel. Mr, ride share guyhe told BI. “After you deduct your expenses of $6 an hour, you might as well flip burgers. You can make $20 an hour with no risk.”
Lyft wrote in an email to Business Insider that it is committed to improving the driver experience, including new minimum earnings guarantees and improvements to the disablement appeals process aimed at improving driver pay and transparency. Pointed out new offers and commitments released in March. .
Lyft said in February: typical us driver Before expenses, you earn approximately $23 per hour worked. The company also driver warranty 70% of weekly rider payments (excluding external fees). Uber said in November that the typical driver in the U.S. earns about $33 per hour, excluding driving costs.
Calculating a driver's actual income can be very complex. Engagement time includes only the time from when a ride is accepted until it is completed. It does not include the time drivers spend traveling to high-demand areas or filling up their gas tanks. Drivers must also consider expenses such as gas, maintenance, and vehicle depreciation, and estimate how much of that is related to ride-hailing rather than personal vehicle use. You should also consider the tax implications of driving.
Moore said the Valentine's Day protests could be the largest organized movement since protests began in 2019. some cities In response to similar concerns about pay.
Enacting a law may lead to progress
Avedian supports the Valentine's Day protests, but is skeptical that they will have much of an impact.
He said the ride-hailing driver market is the “most oversupplied” in his eight years as a driver compared to customer demand. This means many drivers not participating in the protests may be able to pick up riders. Last November, Uber Recorded 6.5 million people Active drivers and couriers.
Abedian said pushing for new laws is the best way for drivers to push for change. new york city, Seattleand California We are establishing a minimum wage for drivers, and the proposal is currently under consideration. minneapolis, Chicagoand Massachusetts.
“The important thing is to draw attention to the fact that these things are happening,” Avedian said of the protests. “And I don't think this is a one-and-done thing. I think we'll see a lot of this in 2024.”
Are you a gig worker willing to share your stories about pay, schedules, and tips? To contact these reporters, contact: jzikula@insider.com.
