Dozens of Philadelphia taxi and limousine drivers
bombarded Democrats as they headed into Uber's Democratic National Convention
party Monday night, calling for the ride sharing company to reinstate 17 workers
it deactivated from its app and offer better treatment to all its drivers.
The San Francisco-based company, however, claims the
decision to deactivate those drivers last Tuesday was necessary because the
group aimed to disrupt the app's operations to increase their own ability to
get fares.
"Seventeen guys – they were thrown out, and nobody
answered their phone calls," said Ali Razak, the leader of the
Philadelphia Limousine Association, which represents Uber Black drivers in the
city.
The picketers, which included local disability advocates,
told those entering an Uber-sponsored fete at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Broad
and Walnut streets that attending the party was supporting a company that
doesn't care about workers' rights – contrary to the Democratic party's
platform.
"If you're going in there do not go to the Uber
table," Razak said. "They took food from the drivers' table to feed
you."
Razak says the 17 drivers locked their location to the Philadelphia
International Airport in hopes of increasing the number of trips they make
during a period when fares dropped to as little as $3 for a ride.
But that's cheating the system, according to Uber.
"We have zero tolerance for any fraudulent behavior
that makes it tougher for the vast majority of honest drivers to receive ride
requests," the company said in a statement early Tuesday morning.
Razak said the drivers were unaware that locking their
locations was considered fraudulent activity and should have been warned by the
company before losing their source of income. He also said the drivers made
multiple attempts – by phone and in person at Uber's offices – to sort this
out, but company representatives didn't return calls and refused to see them.
Uber, on the other hand, maintains it was following
company policy.
The issues Uber Black drivers have with the company don't
stop there.
Many Uber Black drivers opted to participate in the ride
sharing firm's special DNC program, which guarantees rates ranging from $25 to
$27 per hour while the convention is in town. The rates are a base, so drivers
could earn above those figures and if the rate falls below the minimum, Uber
will pay the difference, according to an email obtained by the Philadelphia Business
Journal. *
Yet Razak said many of the Uber Black drivers were having
buyer's remorse, so to speak, concerned they wouldn't get enough fares from the
conventioneers – perhaps because many found wait times frustrating.
"Now these guys are scared, as though there wont be
enough work," Razak said. "These drivers need justice."
The city's Uber Black, limo and taxi drivers, who are
regulated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, had been prepared to strike
during the DNC, warning it was a possibility months ago.
After the city struck a deal with Uber to allow other
iterations of its ride-sharing service – UberX and UberPool – to operate during
the convention without repercussion for the technically illegal activity, the
head of the Taxi Workers Alliance Ronald Blount said, "It doesn't make
sense to drive a cab."
A plan to strike during the DNC was dropped. Blount said
the taxi drivers didn't want to alienate the allies they still have left.
Instead the group promised "chaos."
As the possibility of more demonstrations throughout the
week remains, Uber says its drivers are simply helping Philadelphia accommodate
the estimated 50,000 visitors in the city this week.
"While the taxi and limousine industry has resisted
change at every turn for decades, Uber is focused on meeting Philadelphia’s
demand for affordable, equitable transportation and flexible work
opportunities."
Correction/Clarification
*An earlier version of this story stated Uber's DNC
program offered flat rates of $25 to $27. Those rates are the minimum amounts
Uber Black drivers can receive.
Source: Philadelphia
Business Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment