LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO: Uber drivers in London and major US cities held a series of strikes on Wednesday to protest the disparity between gig-economy conditions and the sums that investors are likely to make in Friday’s blockbuster stock market debut.
Protests were sparsely attended in London, New York and California, and rides appeared easily available in some cities where strikes were called.
Drivers and regulators around the world have long criticised the business tactics of Uber Technologies Inc. The expected valuation of up to $90 billion in its initial public offering on Friday is proving to be the latest flashpoint.
Unions in Britain said support for the strike was strong, with drivers staying at home and passengers using the #UberShutDown hashtag to pledge solidarity on social media. The Uber app indicated fares were higher in London during a rainy morning rush hour due to increased demand.
“Stand with these workers on strike today, across the UK and the world,” said Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party.
A few dozen protesters gathered at a rally in London. Another dozen attended a protest at about 9 am EDT (13:00 GMT) near Wall Street in Manhattan. At Uber’s headquarters in the borough of Queens in New York City, about 100 people gathered in the morning, but their numbers dwindled to a few dozen or so at 1 pm, when a rally was scheduled. Uber has 3 million drivers globally.
Around a hundred people attended a rally in San Francisco, Uber’s home town. Driver and organiser Rebecca Stack-Martinez said that widespread media coverage made the strike a success, adding that organising in the gig economy of part-time, contract labour was difficult.
“There is no directory out there of who’s driving, how many drivers, how we can reach them,” she said. “And so we have to be really creative about how we get to drivers and get them involved in the movement.”
Many drivers work part time for the services and often divide their time between platforms, delivering food and goods as well as giving rides.
The public calls for higher pay underscored that some drivers want more from Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi, who was hired to help move the company past a series of scandals, improve driver relations and manage the IPO.
Uber is paying more than a million drivers about $300 million in one-time bonuses, for instance, and has changed policies such as allowing riders to tip.
“Whether it’s being able to track your earnings or stronger insurance protections, we’ll continue working to improve the experience for and with drivers,” the company said.
— Reuters
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