Uber and Bolt drivers protested in Birmingham, blocking roads and an airport car park, citing unfair pay and poor conditions.
Taxis drove from Star City to Brunel Street and joined other drivers near New Street station around 4 PM. Drivers set off flares during their protest causing significant traffic slowdowns.
Dakkis Sulimn, a driver, spoke about Uber’s treatment of drivers, saying that despite the number of trips, the pay rates are very low. He claimed some drivers earn less than £1 per hour.
Drivers agreed to not accept trips from 4 PM to 10 PM and yelled at drivers who were working during the protest and picking up people. The protesting drivers wanted unity.
One driver said they needed to be heard and blocked roads to make their point. A reporter rode with a driver to the airport with the intention of blocking airport roads.
Police stopped part of the convoy, blocking a media van near Electric Cinema. Later, the convoy moved again, but some taxis got separated from the group.
The drivers regrouped at Terminal Road, blocking a car park exit at the airport. This effectively stopped drivers from working and earning money, hurting Uber and Bolt on Valentine’s Day.
Someone set off fireworks, but police stopped them due to safety concerns. While some drivers agreed it was a bad idea, the protest also included reasons beyond pay.
Drivers protested unfair pricing, rising costs and algorithmic control problems. They mentioned that trip radars and dynamic pricing caused problems.
Drivers want fair fixed pricing, including extra pay for delays, detours, and road closures. Bolt said their service was not affected and people could still book rides.