Uber drivers set to strike

Uber drivers protesting over low earnings and what they call the company’s “faceless” nature are set to strike tomorrow.

The protesting drivers have set up the Rideshare Drivers Network website outlining concerns over the cut Uber takes from each ride, a lack of job security and uncertainty about whether Uber cars are covered by personal insurance.

Organiser Sher Abid is expecting more than 100 drivers to strike.

Uber spokeswoman Nicky Preston said the company was reaching out to its drivers to address concerns.

But one driver, who did not wish to be named, said fulltime drivers often earned less than the minimum wage.

He knew of drivers who invested in new cars only to have their accounts deactivated by Uber because of a customer complaint, without being told what the complaint was or given the chance to respond. He said drivers wanted to talk directly to Uber about the issues, but their biggest problem was finding a person to talk to.

“They are faceless. We don’t even know how to contact them, they don’t have an email address.”

With 6000 drivers now in New Zealand and 450,000 Kiwis regularly using the service, Uber said it had been running more events to engage with drivers.

Preston said a recent Uber survey of 362 drivers found 78 per cent were satisfied, 90 per cent were likely to continue as drivers and 38 per cent primarily worked as drivers to supplement an existing income.

But Abid said many of Uber’s policies remained unclear and drivers wanted it to reduce its share of fees down to as low as 10 per cent. Uber takes a “service fee” of 25-28 per cent.