Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine鈥檚 Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions.
In the U.S., Uber and Lyft drivers planned daylong strikes in Chicago; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Miami; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Providence, Rhode Island. Drivers were also holding midday demonstrations at airports in those cities, according to Justice for App Workers, the group organizing the effort.
Meanwhile, U.K. delivery drivers for Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Stuart said they would turn off their apps and refuse deliveries between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The group Delivery Job U.K., which called for the walkout, said on Instagram that the strike was 鈥渁 crucial opportunity to be seen and heard by society.鈥�
Of eight delivery drivers who spoke with The Associated Press on the streets of London Wednesday, all but one said they planned to halt work at 5 p.m. Several, however, questioned whether the strike was long enough to make enough of a financial dent in the businesses.
鈥淥ne day is not effective,鈥� said Evadur Rahman. 鈥淚f we strike more than one day 鈥� two, three, four days 鈥� they鈥檙e gonna be affected.鈥�
Rahman, a Deliveroo driver who planned to participate in the strike, said his daily pay dropped in recent months from about 140 pounds ($175) for eight hours of work to around 100 pounds ($126). He said he wanted the company to raise the minimum rate it pays per order from 2.90 pounds ($3.64) to closer to 5 pounds ($6.28).
鈥淭hey must improve the minimum pay,鈥� Rahman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not enough for survival in this country.鈥�
Delivery Job U.K. said 3,000 people planned to strike, but it was unclear how many U.S. drivers would be participating. Uber said Tuesday that based on past walkouts, it didn鈥檛 expect the strike to have much impact on its operations.
鈥淭hese types of events have rarely had any impact on trips, prices or driver availability,鈥� Uber said in a statement. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 because the vast majority of drivers are satisfied.鈥�
Uber and other companies that rely on self-employed gig workers say those workers appreciate the flexibility of the job. But many gig workers are pushing to unionize, saying that would give them the ability to bargain over compensation, safety measures and other benefits.
In November, that unionization effort , when Britain鈥檚 top court ruled that Deliveroo couriers don鈥檛 have collective bargaining rights because they aren鈥檛 considered employees.
Deliveroo said Wednesday that it has a voluntary partnership with a union that includes annual discussions on pay and it also provides couriers with free insurance and sick pay.
鈥淩ider retention rates are high and the overwhelming majority of riders tell us that they are satisfied working with us,鈥� the company said in a statement.
Rachel Gumpert, a spokesperson for Justice for App Workers, described ride-hailing as a 鈥渕obile sweatshop,鈥� with some workers routinely putting in 60 to 80 hours per week. Justice for App Workers, which says it represents 130,000 ride-hailing and delivery workers, is seeking higher wages, access to health care and an appeals process so companies can鈥檛 deactivate drivers without warning.
鈥淯ber has proven time and time again that they鈥檙e putting profits over people. In shareholder meetings they discuss profits; there鈥檚 no questions about safety, protection from deactivation or compensation,鈥� said Jocilyn Floyd, a ride-hailing driver, who was picketing Wednesday at Chicago鈥檚 O鈥橦are Airport.
But ride-hailing companies say they already pay a fair wage and have an appeals process in place for deactivations.
Earlier this month, Lyft said it began guaranteeing that drivers will make at least 70% of their fares each week, and it lays out its fees more clearly for drivers in a new earnings statement. Lyft also unveiled a new in-app button that lets drivers appeal deactivation decisions.
鈥淲e are constantly working to improve the driver experience,鈥� Lyft said in a statement. Lyft said its U.S. drivers make an average of $30.68 per hour, or $23.46 per hour after expenses.
Uber said its U.S. drivers make an average of $33 per hour. The company also said it allows drivers to dispute deactivations.
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