Uber, $UBER, Lyft, $LYFT, DoorDash, $DASH, drivers in the US to strike on Valentine's Day for fair pay

Uber, $UBER, Lyft, $LYFT, DoorDash, $DASH, drivers in the US to strike on Valentine's Day for fair pay.


The impending strike marks the first since Uber and Lyft became publicly traded companies in 2019. Drivers intend to stage demonstrations outside airports and Uber offices, as indicated by two of the groups involved.

These strikes are scheduled to occur approximately a week after Lyft announced it would compensate drivers if they earned less than 70% of the riders' fees, excluding external charges, each week.

Lyft, which is slated to release quarterly results on Tuesday, informed Reuters on Monday, "We are continuously striving to enhance the driver experience."

Drivers, classified as independent contractors, have leveled allegations against the platforms, claiming they receive disproportionately high commissions.

The Justice For App Workers coalition, representing roughly 130,000 drivers and delivery personnel, declared that their drivers in 10 U.S. cities would abstain from providing rides to and from airports between 11 am and 1 pm.

Shantwan Humphrey, a driver from Dallas, Texas, remarked, "By not providing drivers with a wage they can live on, drivers can barely cover their basic needs."

Although many drivers join these platforms to supplement income from other sources, some rely on driving full-time for their livelihood.

"Following a year of algorithmic pricing, drivers have witnessed a significant decline in our earnings... whatever calculations and algorithms they employ, they're utterly ineffective," stated Nicole Moore, president of the California-based Rideshare Drivers United union, in remarks to Reuters on Sunday.

According to Gridwise, a firm that analyzes gig mobility data, Uber drivers experienced a 17.1% drop in monthly average gross earnings in 2023, while Lyft drivers saw a 2.5% increase.

"Driver earnings remain robust, and as of Q4 2023, drivers in the U.S. were earning around $33 per hour when they were actively engaged in providing services," Uber stated, noting that the majority of its drivers were content with their earnings.