Drivers working for Uber, an American international mobile ride hail company have protested fare cuts on Monday outside the company's Queens office in New York City.
The drivers protested that after the 20-25% commission on each ride that Uber makes, it leaves them with nothing at all.
Uber cut fares by 15% last week, with the minimum fare dropping from $8 to $7. Base fare on the UberX went from $3 to $2.55 while the mile rate dropped to $1.75 from $2.15. Fares on the UberXL fell as well.
The protestors claimed it is too hard to earn a decent income - or increase their hours, like for example when they are already working around 8 hours a day, six days a week. They also complained of the timing of he cuts - with the city being hit by a giant snowstorm last month, there were fewer people hailing them for rides.
Drivers at the rally protested that New York City gets more expensive every day and that it is getting very hard to survive on the money they make. They disapproved of being treated like 'slaves,' and the chants during the rally insisted that the commission be lowered instead of the fares. Drivers held up placards saying "We made you billionaires, you're making us homeless," according to 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon's report.
The rally was organized by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. Director Bhairavi Desai criticized Uber's policy of lowering fares without consulting drivers. "They didn't ask them for input," Ms. Desai said. "It gives the message that those fares are binding, and nonnegotiable. They gag you, and then they starve you."
Uber countered by claiming that lowering fares means more people will hail rides, drivers will have to idle around less, and eventually end up making more money everyday. The company released data that claimed that their previous experience with fare cuts has been positive.
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