Thousands of rideshare and delivery drivers across the United States are preparing for a major demonstration on Valentine's Day.
On Feb 14, drivers from popular platforms such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash will take to the streets to demand fair pay and better safety measures. This protest organized by the Justice for App Workers coalition involves over 100,000 drivers (via Reuters).
Two drivers hold up a protest sign as the Uber banner hangs on the front of the New York Stock Exchange May 10, 2019 in New York. - Uber is set for its Wall Street debut Friday with a massive share offering that is a milestone for the ride-hailing industry, but which comes with simmering concerns about its business model. Shares will be priced at $45 for the initial public offering (IPO). (Photo by Don Emmert / AFP)
Major Airports Affected
According to the latest update from organizers, the scope of this strike is large, with drivers from major cities taking part. Rallies are scheduled at airports in ten different cities, ranging from Austin to Miami and Chicago to Tampa.
One of the main issues driving these protests is the significant pay cut that drivers have received, particularly during the winter months. Many drivers struggle to make ends meet, with some having to work excessively long hours to make ends meet.
The safety of drivers is also of great concern. Drivers frequently find themselves in vulnerable situations, and the platforms' lack of adequate security measures has left them feeling exposed.
The coalition is urging Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and other app companies to address these concerns and implement meaningful changes to support their drivers.
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Downplayed by Companies
While the strike may cause transportation disruptions on Valentine's Day, Uber and Lyft are downplaying the potential impact on their businesses.
Based on previous reports, they claim that only a small percentage of drivers typically attend such demonstrations and that previous strikes had little impact on their operations.
Both companies emphasize that driver earnings remain strong, with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently reporting an average of $33 per hour for drivers in the United States.
Lyft recently announced guaranteed weekly earnings for its drivers, a move aimed at improving transparency and addressing criticisms about driver compensation.
However, drivers argue that more needs to be done to ensure they receive fair pay for their work. They point to data showing a decrease in Uber drivers' earnings by 17.1% in 2023, while Lyft drivers saw only a 2.5% increase.
DoorDash, another major player in the gig economy, has not responded to requests for comment on the upcoming strike. The company currently pays its drivers based on active hours, with rates varying depending on location and local regulations.
In Other News
Prime Video's ad-supported tier has been downgraded once more with the removal of Dolby Atmos and Vision features.
The only way to reclaim these features for their experiences is to pay the additional monthly fee, which also removes ads from their streaming.
For the time being, users have three options: stay in the regular (now ad-supported) tier, upgrade to ad-free to gain access to the Dolby features, or quit Prime Video.
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