Ride-hailing and food delivery workers across the United States and United Kingdom, particularly those driving for Uber and Lyft, and riders for DoorDash, are set to strike on Valentine’s Day, disrupting services in about 20 major cities. The strike, organized by groups like Justice for App Workers and Rideshare Drivers United, is a protest against low wages, poor working conditions, and the lack of transparency in how earnings are determined. The drivers demand fair compensation and better treatment in a gig economy that increasingly cuts into their earnings while boosting corporate profits.
The action is particularly significant as it falls on a busy holiday for the services involved and is causing particular inconvenience at area airports where travelers are finding themselves stranded without a ride. Drivers and delivery workers argue that despite long hours on the road—often exceeding 80 hours a week—their income continues to dwindle, exacerbated by policies like California’s gig law Proposition 22 and corporate strategies that prioritize investor returns over worker welfare.
In response, companies like Lyft and Uber have downplayed the potential impact of the strike, with Lyft introducing measures to improve pay transparency and guarantee a minimum weekly earnings percentage of rider fares after external fees. However, drivers remain skeptical, highlighting the difficulty in accessing promised benefits and challenging deactivation decisions. As the strike looms, the gig workers’ plea for a fair share and recognition of their contribution to the digital economy underscores the growing tension between labor and capital in the 21st century.
