Drivers convoy through Birmingham, protesting unfair pay, rising costs, and algorithm control on Valentine’s Day.
The protest is a convoy from the city center to Birmingham Airport. It starts at 4pm and ends at 10pm. Drivers will not use Uber or Bolt and will meet at New Street Station.
Other cities will also have protests then, including London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Leicester. Drivers have many concerns. They cite unfair pay and rising costs, algorithm control issues, trip radar exploitation, and dynamic pricing manipulation.
Drivers want fixed pricing to end now, feeling drivers should get more money; delays, detours, and closures should increase pay. Drivers can lose work quickly, as companies deactivate them without a warning, and they cannot appeal the decision either.
Minhaj Uddin, chair of the Private Hire Drivers’ Alliance, stated drivers will not be ignored. “The whole country acts,” he said, believing this is just the start.
Uber was asked to comment, while Bolt responded with a statement. Bolt recognizes that drivers keep cities moving and balances driver needs with passenger costs. Bolt lets drivers set minimum prices and also uses dynamic pricing where fares fluctuate based on conditions.
All Bolt drivers get holiday pay and extra money, which ensures a living wage and a pension. Bolt values feedback and talks to drivers often through surveys and events.