The drivers are protesting low earnings, among other things.
Thousands of Ola and Uber drivers are on strike in Mumbai on Friday to demand better monthly earnings, among other things. The token strike has been called by the Action Committee of Maharashtra (ACM) against Ola and Uber because the drivers feel that the two companies are not paying heed to their demands and that the business is no longer lucrative, reported Mid-Day.
Due to their steadily reducing income, increasing penalties and a cut on the incentive policies at Ola and Uber, the cab drivers have staged this protest, reported Hindustan Times. The new rules under Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules 2017 have further added to the drivers' grievances.
The Indian Express reported that this strike is also in protest of the Maharashtra City Taxi scheme 2017 announced by the state transport department last week.
Raju Patil of Sangharsh Tourist Chalakh Malak Sangh, which is spearheading the agitation, told The Times of India, "Drivers have been pushed to the wall, which is why they are agitating. Earnings have fallen by more than 50%, incentives have been reduced and many have EMIs for car loans to be repaid. It is a hand-to-mouth existence for many drivers. With thousands of cabs on the roads, it is difficult to survive and get more business. We are also demanding a cap on the number of cabs attached to Ola or Uber."
While talking to TOI, a driver said, "We were promised an income of up to Rs 1 lakh a month when we joined. But with incentives dipping and business affected due to addition of cars on roads, we don't know what to do. Besides, we have huge car loans to repay."
The ACM claimed that in Mumbai there are 70,000 drivers who drive 30,000-plus cabs belonging to the mobile aggregators in shifts.
If the government and the companies do not pay heed to drivers' demand, they could even go on an indefinite strike from March 21, 2017.
Ola or Uber has not made any official statement.
The strike has however, inconvenienced several Mumbaikars, with most of them complaining about surge pricing.
But a few commuters have found a silver lining; rejoicing less traffic and emptier roads.
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