Amidst Fuel Subsidy Ride-Hailing Drivers Strike Countrywide
- Posted on June 07, 2023
- Finance
- By PETER AGADA
On Wednesday, drivers for ride-hailing services around the country went on strike. This includes drivers for Uber, Bolt, LagRide, and Indriver. This movement started in the early hours of the day and is expected to last until Friday.
The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON) has directed that drivers for ride-hailing services remain at home until the ride-hailing firms boost the basic fees by an amount equal to 200%.
Kolawole Aina, the National Vice President of AUATWON for Southwest Nigeria, stated that the drivers intend to occupy the headquarters of Uber on Victoria Island and Bolt in Lekki.
AUATWON DEMANDS
AUATWON is requesting that ride-hailing businesses raise their rates by a minimum of 200%.
In addition to this, the union is requesting a drop in commission of 50%; both Uber and Bolt take a 20% cut of each ride's fee as their commission. Furthermore, the union wants an end to the deactivation of drivers who refuse to work owing to the low rates and the attendant unprofitability.
In addition to this, the union is requesting that AUATWON be acknowledged as the organization that best represents their particular concerns.
AUATWON STATEMENT
The statement read in part, “The union’s technical team is versed with the operation and technicality of ride-hailing companies and on our calculations, any app company can breakeven charging below five per cent even though the union recommended a flat commission of 10 per cent or 50 per cent off their current commission during our last meeting, as we believe this will help us to cope with maintenance costs, spare parts and various overhead cost and the current fuel increase.
“We can no longer tolerate any act of dictatorial practices by any app company because we are workers and as an organised union, we have written several letters to these companies for a round table discussion where we can look at various areas of concern and dialogue but they have remained adamant with a deliberate intention to avoid responsibility.
“So, as a result of this insensitivity, the union is directing all its members across the nation to shut down their service on all ride-hailing applications from Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in protest against every dictatorial practice and lack of concern for welfare and security of App-Based Transport workers of Nigeria.
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