Uber and Bolt drivers are set to strike for safety and fair pay on Valentine’s Day. Uber, Bolt and Addison Lee drivers will log off on Valentine’s Day to fight for better pay and conditions. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said workers at the taxi apps will take action for six hours from 4pm on February 14, with the backing of driver groups in cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham and Brighton.
The union has said that drivers face “brutally long hours” working up to 70-80 hours to make ends meet. Drivers are also facing high fees for car rentals and “the threat of unfair deactivation hanging over our heads”. The action comes a year after food delivery riders working for UberEats and Deliveroo staged the biggest courier strike in British history, the union said. IWGB warned drivers’ lives are being torn apart by companies in “their endless pursuit of profit”.
In a statement, the union said: “Without drivers, these companies are nothing but apps. Our work is what makes their profits.”. It added: “It has been inspiring to see this action spread like wildfire across the country, with more and more local groups, organisations and associations in cities around the UK endorsing the log-off.”. A demonstration and motorcade are expected to take place outside London’s City Hall for six hours on Friday evening between 4pm and 10pm.
Drivers will also hold a candlelit vigil for Gabriel Bringye, who was killed by a passenger in Tottenham in February 2021 while he was driving for Bolt. As part of a planned demonstration and motorcade outside London’s City Hall on Friday, drivers will hold a candlelit vigil for Gabriel, to commemorate the four years since his death and demand better protections in his name. Organisers said they hoped the action, taking place on a usually busy night for drivers, would be an important step in the fight against low pay and insecure conditions.
The IWGB is calling for better pay and more secure work, as well as the introduction of safety measures for drivers like rider ID verification, complaint tracking systems, and support for victims of assault. IWGB chairman Nader Awaad said: “Up and down the country, drivers whose lives have been torn apart by apps like Uber are saying the same thing – it’s time for us to take back the wheel. “As private hire drivers we offer a great service to the customers and form an essential part of the transport system.
“We deserve to be paid well and to have our jobs protected. Instead, industry profits have soared at our expense. “The government and licensing authorities have abandoned us to the mercy of these companies. “We are left with no choice but to come together and take action ourselves. This log-off has reignited drivers’ faith that by uniting we can transform this industry for the better.”. An Addison Lee spokesperson previously said: “We have a close working relationship with our drivers, which was further reinforced in our recent bi-annual driver satisfaction survey.
“We do not expect to see any disruption to volumes or service levels on February 14.”. An Uber spokesperson previously said: “As workers, all Uber drivers are guaranteed to earn at least the national living wage when taking trips, with Uber topping up their earnings if they ever fall below this level. “The majority of Uber drivers can and do earn much more. Uber drivers have the freedom to work where and when they want and have access to industry-leading rights such as holiday pay and a pension, as well as formal representation through GMB Union.”.
