Romance may need to find a detour today as rideshare and delivery drivers across several major cities, including Austin, have decided to not just brake for love but put a full stop on their services in a Valentine's Day strike. Organized by the group Justice for App Workers, the strike is hitting the roads and airports with a rally at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 4 p.m., as drivers push for fair pay, safety, and an end to arbitrary deactivation of their accounts, as reported by KXAN.
According to the coalition, they are calling for a list of demands that includes better wages, safe work conditions, and the right to form a union, which, they maintain, is long overdue. Uber, however, asserts that drivers are making an average of about $33 per utilized hour, implying satisfaction with the current arrangement. Still, these claims of contentment contrast the frustrations voiced by drivers in cities that span from Hartford to Tampa as they unite in their largest strike yet, as per NBC DFW.
Chris Liebelt, an Austin-based Uber and Lyft driver of seven years, urged riders to realize the gravity of the situation. "We really need the riders to take notice of this,” he said. "At the end of the day, if they keep signing up for these drives, according to KXAN.
" Meanwhile, Justice for App Workers representative Lenny Sanchez highlighted the urgent need for change saying, "We're fed up with low pay [and] bad safety. We have attacks on drivers on a daily basis, and dozens and dozens have lost their lives," as stated in NBC DFW.
Despite the strong calls for action from groups like Justice for App Workers, big rideshare companies seem rather undisturbed. Uber has stated that strikes of this nature rarely have any impact on trips, prices, or driver availability. In a seeming nod towards driver discontent, Lyft has recently announced updates to their driver program, guaranteeing at least 70% of riders' fares to the driver after fees, and a new avenue for drivers to appeal deactivation decisions, notes KXAN.
