More than 1,000 Uber drivers in New York City on strike in dispute over pay raises
NEW YORK -- If you had a hard time getting an Uber in New York City on Monday, it could be because drivers are on strike.
They're pushing back after the company blocked raises that were supposed to go into effect.
"Uber owes this raise to the drivers. We are not going to stop until the raise is given back to where it is due," said Bhairavi Desai, of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.
A group gathered outside Uber's headquarters in Lower Manhattan on Monday afternoon as part of a 24-hour strike.
"We fought for so many years to get that raise that TLC just passed," said Ibrahim Gory, "and Uber want to take that raise away from us which is not fair."
The rideshare drivers sacrificed a day of pay to protest and called on riders to join them by not using the app on Monday. Then, during the morning rush, a caravan of cars crossed the Brooklyn Bridge and caused a traffic jam.
The group continued with a rally outside the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, calling on courts to side with the Taxi and Limousine Commission, which approved wage increases for app-based drivers.
"We want to be able to provide a service efficiently, but we want to be treated fairly as drivers," said driver Michelle Dottin.
Uber and Lyft drivers were set to earn just over 7 percent more per minute and nearly 24 percent more per mile. The raise was supposed to go into effect Monday, but is on hold until a hearing in January after Uber sued to block the wage increases.
Uber said the increase would force it to shell out up to $23 million more per month and raise fares.
"Drivers do critical work and deserve to be paid fairly, but rates should be calculated in a way that is transparent, consistent and predictable," Uber said in a statement. "Existing TLC rules continue to provide for an annual review tied to the rate of inflation; that's one reason why driver pay has gone up 38.4% since 2019."
"Shame on them. Shame on Uber," said Gory. "Without drivers there wouldn't be no Uber."
The TLC said it is actively challenging this in court and the next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31.
"The city's for hire drivers have every right to protest Uber's attempt to deny them the inflation and cost of living pay adjustment that they are rightfully due. TLC is actively protesting this too, in court," TLC Commissioner David Do said in a statement.
This only applies to ride-sharing. It does not impact the taxi meter fare increase, which is in effect as planned.
