Cab-services giants, Ola and Uber, have decided to go on an indefinite strike starting March 19. The strike will affect the commuters in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad.
The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena chief, Sanjay Naik, who told PTI:
“Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh, and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies.”
He added that others unions are also with them in this strike. Alleging that Ola and Uber are giving priority to their the company-run cars over driver-owned vehicles, Naik said:
“While taxi-hailing companies offered loan-guarantee letters to drivers through the Mudra scheme, and that too without any verification.These drivers are defaulting on repayment now as their costs are not covered.”
As per Financial Express, ‘In Mumbai, which has over 45,000 cabs, the number of cabs have reduced by about 20 % due to the slump in their business. The banks have seized the vehicles of the drivers, who defaulted on their loans. These drivers are also spend on their family, as they spend about 12 hours at work every day.
Apart from this, the drivers also want the company-owned cars to stop from immediate effect. Other demands include the reinstatement of drivers with low rating, rates to be decided on the basis of the vehicle and stop the low fare system.
The drivers will be protesting in front of the offices of Ola and Uber in all metros, with their families.
This is not the first time Ola and Uber drivers have gone on strike. In January this year, commuters in Chennai had to face severe problems as more than 2000 drivers went on strike demanding fixing minimum fare according to the vehicle’s capacity, hike the night-time charges by 25 % and removal of star ratings. Last year in March, Delhi’ Sarvodaya Drivers Association led a strike demanding relaxation in working hours, increase in per kilometre rates (from Rs 6 to Rs 23), accident insurance, among other things.
