Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash Drivers Plan Valentine’s Day Strike

On Valentine’s Day, ride-sharing and delivery drivers are preparing to strike in multiple U.S. cities close to airports. The Justice for App Workers coalition, representing these drivers, declared their intention to strike last week, citing concerns over fair wages and safety measures.

In a press release, the coalition stressed the need for drivers to earn enough to support themselves without fear of being deactivated from the apps they rely on for income. They’re urging people to join them in rallying for changes from companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, which profit from their hard work.

Those participating in the strike will abstain from providing rides to and from the airport throughout the day in Rhode Island and cities including Austin, Chicago, Hartford, Miami, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Tampa.

Uber defended its position, asserting that driver earnings remain robust. According to Uber, drivers in the U.S. were earning an average of $33 per utilized hour as of Q4 2023. The company also highlighted updated processes for deactivating drivers’ accounts, aimed at ensuring fairness and offering avenues for appeal.

Lyft echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing improvements in its deactivation process and recent changes to its driver program. These changes include guaranteeing drivers at least 70% of rider fares after external fees and implementing a more accessible deactivation appeals process directly within the Lyft driver app.

In a statement, Lyft said, “We are constantly working to improve the driver experience… It’s all part of our new customer-obsessed focus on drivers.”

Both Uber and Lyft assert that the strike is unlikely to affect service availability or pricing, noting an increase in trips during a similar strike on Valentine’s Day the previous year.

As the strike date approaches, tensions between app-based drivers and the companies they work for continue to simmer, highlighting ongoing issues within the gig economy.