AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
- Uber and Lyft drivers around the world are participating in coordinated protests and strikes on Wednesday.
- Many drivers have complained of falling pay and a lack of transparency from the companies.
- Business Insider spoke to dozens of drivers to find out their biggest frustrations with the platforms and why they are striking.
Drivers for Uber and Lyft are planning work stoppages and demonstrations around the world on Wednesday to demand higher wages from the ride-hailing companies ahead of Uber’s massive initial public offering.
Protests are scheduled for at least 14 cities worldwide, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Glasgow, and more. Organizing groups are also encouraging consumers to join in their movement by not requesting rides.
Business Insider has spoken to dozens of Uber and Lyft drivers in previous months to learn more about their experience on the platforms. More often than not, their complaints revolve around a lack of transparency from the companies, and in many cases, consistently declining pay.
In new research published Tuesday, The Economic Policy Institute found that Uber drivers on average take home the equivalent of about $9.21 in wages, after Uber fees, vehicle expenses, and other related costs.
Here are why some drivers said they are protesting Wednesday, in their own words:
Scott, Los Angeles
AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
"Living in L.A. and getting paid .60 a mile and .22 cents for wait time is a joke for the second largest city. Now gas prices are soaring over $4.00 a gallon I would think Uber should be considerate and bump our fees up. Where is justice in our society with idiots running companies like this that don’t respect the drivers who got them to party. As they say the fish stinks from the head down! Corporate corruption at the helm undermining the drivers who work so hard to hardly able to pay bill’s today.
Tadios, Boise, Idaho
REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
"I have driven for seven months for Uber. I bought an Infinity QX60 to drive for Uber Select, but after I spent $27,500 they deactivated my account for no reason. I tried to contact them but it’s so har to get in contact with a human."
Ericka, Los Angeles
"The pay sucks. Lyft was letting the driver have 75% and they kept 25% until about a year ago. Now they take 50%. Most riders don’t tip. It pisses me off when I pick up a party of 4 and I only get $3.75 for driving 4 people and no one tips."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- Uber and Lyft drivers are striking in over a dozen cities around the world on Wednesday. Here’s the full list of where demonstrations are planned.
- Uber and Lyft drivers are planning to strike this week, and it highlights the challenge the 2 ride-hailing giants face as public companies
- Uber and Lyft drivers reveal the most annoying things that passengers do during rides
Source: Business Insider – grapier@businessinsider.com (Graham Rapier)