Uber Drivers Protest Outside Company's Dallas Offices
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A change in Uber policy leads to a massive protest outside the company's Dallas offices.
Uber drivers are known for getting to you fast, so it didn't take long for them to organize a protest after a company email went out Thursday announcing a change in policy.
"They didn't even give us like a week or a month, you know. We got the email yesterday, and then they want us to start it today. It's not a choice. Now you have to do the UberX and the UberBLACK altogether," UberBLACK driver Henok Fekadu said.
Drivers of the premium UberBLACK service say having to accept the cheaper UberX trip requests from customers will make a huge difference in their earning potential.
"Oh, big difference. Let's say going from downtown to DFW with the UberBLACK is going to cost about $80. Now it's about $20 dollars, so there's no way, you know I'm going to make a living with that kind of money," Fekadu said.
"Why are they saying everybody must drive for UberX no matter the car that you are using?" UberBLACK driver Okyere Ayim-Baafuor said.
In the email to drivers, Uber explained that with fall football, concerts, and festivals, the demand for rides has increased. But UberBLACK drivers say it isn't fair to make them accept UberX requests after they chose to invest in more expensive vehicles and incur additional costs to offer a premium service.
"The only reason the car I'm driving, the only reason I bought it is to do UberBLACK," Fekadu said.
A spokesperson for Uber tells us the company has been meeting with drivers throughout the day. CBS11 spoke to some of those drivers who say they met with management, but they tell us so far they have not reached a resolution.
Uber spokesperson Debbee Hancock wrote in an email:
"Drivers are our customers, and our goal is to give them the best Uber experience and maximize their ability to earn money. Drivers make more money by completing more trips. With uberX demand skyrocketing, we launched a new program that allows drivers to receive more trip requests from riders at multiple price points.
We are committed to the profitability of our driver-partners' businesses. We will continue to hold driver office hours every day to address concerns and ensure our partners are getting the most out of the Uber app."
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)