Crisis hit Uber declines to meet drivers’ demands
Ride hailing company Uber is facing an imminent industrial action from its driver-partners following a standoff between the two parties.
Even in the face of a strike notice which the drivers intend to execute from Thursday over reduced rates, the company insists it is obligated to offer affordable taxi rides to its clients.
While the drivers have also accused Uber management of ignoring their plea for better rates and involvement in decision making, the company has said that it is not an employer of the drivers, but rather a partner.
“Time and again we have seen that price cuts result in more people wanting to take trips with Uber. That’s good news for driver-partners who spend less time waiting for fares and more time earning,” a statement the company’s spokesperson read.
Uber Kenya also said that it has reduced fares in many other countries across the world and the impact has almost always been an increase in the number of trips by new and existing riders and, in many cases, higher than average net earnings for driver-partners.
IMPOSING RATES
“Uber succeeds when our partners succeed so our teams are working hard every day to find even more ways for drivers using the app to thrive,” Uber’s Communication Associate, East Africa, Janet Kemboi said.
On the contrary, the drivers and Uber-assigned vehicle owners claim the company has been imposing rates and regulations on them without consultation on what impact such rates and regulations may have on them.
Their main concern is on the pricing, with competitors charging almost double what Uber charges for the same distance.
The development comes at a time when the company is facing legal battles with driver-partners in other countries over benefits of traditional workers.
