On Valentine’s Day, thousands of drivers working for ride-sharing platforms Uber, Lyft, and food delivery app DoorDash are expected to go on strike across the United States for fair pay, according to drivers’ groups.
The drivers, who are considered independent contractors, have accused the platforms of taking a disproportionate amount of commissions. The strike comes after Lyft announced that it would guarantee weekly earnings for drivers, a first in the US ride-hailing industry.
The demonstration is set to take place about a week after the announcement. Uber stated that only a minority of its drivers participate in such strikes, which rarely have an impact on their business.
However, according to the Justice For App Workers coalition, which represents more than 100,000 drivers, this is the largest strike ever seen. The drivers claim that they are barely able to afford basic necessities and that their earnings have decreased significantly due to the algorithmic pricing used by these platforms.
In 2023, Uber drivers’ monthly average gross earnings fell 17.1%, while those of Lyft drivers increased 2.5%, according to Gridwise, which analyzes gig mobility data.
DoorDash has not yet commented on the strike.