Birmingham drivers protest Uber and Bolt on Valentine’s Day, demanding better pay, safer conditions, and fair treatment.
Private-hire drivers, including Addison Lee staff, will stop working. They will log off from 4 PM to 10 PM, seeking better pay and improved conditions.
Drivers claim pay is unfair due to rising costs, algorithmic control issues, trip radar exploitation, and dynamic pricing problems. They want fixed pricing to end and extra pay for delays, detours, and road closures; drivers currently get the same pay for all trips.
Drivers can face deactivation without warning and have no way to appeal the decision, potentially leading to job loss.
Minhaj Uddin, chairperson for the driver’s alliance, asserts that drivers will not be ignored or taken for granted by Uber. He believes this protest is just the start of uniting the country. Uber was asked to give a statement.
Bolt states that drivers are important to keeping cities moving. They balance driver pay with affordable prices for riders. Bolt lets drivers set minimum prices and uses dynamic pricing that changes fares based on the market.
Drivers also get holiday pay, monetary supplements, and Bolt ensures they earn the living wage and receive a pension. Bolt values feedback and communicates with drivers directly through surveys, events, and in-person forums.
Protests will soon occur in London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Leicester.