Ride App Drivers in US, UK Hold Valentine's Day Strike

Facts

• US and UK Rideshare and delivery app drivers went on strike on Valentine’s Day, demanding higher wages and improved conditions. Uber and Lyft drivers announced labour stoppages in several US cities, as did UK delivery drivers for Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Stuart.¹
• Uber and Lyft drivers announced strikes in Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Hartford, Newark, Austin, and Providence, while the strike-organizing Justice for App Workers Group warned that drivers would hold midday demonstrations at airports in those cities.²
• The group, which represents more than 130K drivers and delivery workers, wrote that “Silicon Valley and Wall Street take an ever-increasing cut of driver earnings,” while raising customer prices and expecting consumers and workers “to accept their increasing corporate greed.”³
• Uber responded that such demonstrations “have rarely had any impact on trips, prices, or driver availability” because “the vast majority of drivers are satisfied.” Meanwhile, a Lyft spokesperson said the company is “constantly working to improve the driving experience.”⁴
• Many drivers claim they are not making as much money as they used to. According to gig-work data tracking app Gridwise, Lyft and Uber drivers made $21.44/hr and $18.80/hr, respectively, in Q2 of 2023.⁴
• However, one UK driver told AP that his daily pay for eight hours of work has dropped from £140 ($175) to £100 ($126) in recent months. Delivery Job UK, an organizing group, announced that 3K UK drivers were set to go on strike.¹

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²ABC News, ³Independent and ⁴USA Today.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Popular. Rideshare and delivery drivers play a vital role in the modern economy, and they deserve to be fairly compensated for their labor just like any other worker. For years, apps like Uber and Lyft have continued to take more and more money from their drivers’ wallets while passing on higher fares to consumers. This dynamic only benefits the greedy corporatists who run these tech companies, while exploiting workers and consumers alike. Wednesday’s strike was about workers sticking up for simple demands, and hopefully, the companies in question start paying their workers fairly instead of creating loopholes to underpay and overwork their drivers.
• Narrative B, as provided by Daily Caller. App workers' halfhearted strike on Valentine’s Day will achieve little change to pay and working conditions, and cause much inconvenience to people on an important holiday. Most workers are satisfied with their pay, which is why drivers in only a handful of cities took part in Wednesday’s demonstrations. In various states, laws are being passed to more clearly define the employment status of gig workers, and perhaps, drivers could spark change by talking to politicians instead of inconveniencing customers on Valentine’s Day.