Thousands of US Uber and Lyft drivers plan Valentine's Day strikes

Uber said its U.S. drivers marque an mean of $33 per hour. The institution besides said it allows drivers to quality deactivations.

Thousands of U.S. ride-hailing workers program to parkland their cars and picket astatine large U.S. airports Wednesday successful what organizers accidental is their largest onslaught yet successful a thrust for amended wage and benefits.

Uber and Lyft drivers program daylong strikes successful Chicago; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Miami; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Providence, Rhode Island. D

rivers besides program to clasp midday demonstrations astatine airports successful those cities, according to Justice for App Workers, the radical organizing the effort.

Rachel Gumpert, a spokesperson for Justice for App Workers, said ride-hailing drivers successful different cities whitethorn besides show oregon onslaught for astatine slightest portion of the day.

Uber said Tuesday it doesn't expect the onslaught to person overmuch interaction connected its operations connected Valentine's Day.

"These types of events person seldom had immoderate interaction connected trips, prices oregon operator availability," Uber said successful a statement. "That's due to the fact that the immense bulk of drivers are satisfied."

Gumpert described ride-hailing arsenic a "mobile sweatshop," with immoderate workers routinely putting successful 60 to 80 hours per week. Justice for App Workers, which says it represents 130,000 ride-hailing and transportation workers, is seeking higher wages, entree to wellness attraction and an appeals process truthful companies can't deactivate them without warning.

Gumpert said past year's strikes astatine U.S. automakers - which led to much lucrative contracts for their unionized workers - helped embolden ride-hailing workers.

"It's incredibly inspiring. When 1 idiosyncratic rises up, it brings courageousness to different worker," Gumpert said.

But ride-hailing companies accidental they already wage a just wage.

Earlier this month, Lyft said it began guaranteeing that drivers volition marque astatine slightest 70% of their fares each week, and it lays retired its fees much intelligibly for drivers successful a caller net statement. Lyft besides unveiled a caller in-app fastener that lets drivers entreaty deactivation decisions.

"We are perpetually moving to amended the operator experience," Lyft said successful a statement. Lyft said its U.S. drivers marque an mean of $30.68 per hour, oregon $23.46 per hr aft expenses.

Uber said its U.S. drivers marque an mean of $33 per hour. The institution besides said it allows drivers to quality deactivations.