Uber and Lyft Strikes

Submission 2,005

Part of a series on Uber. [View Related Entries]

Overview

Uber and Lyft Strikes refers to an international protest of the ride-sharing applications Uber and Lyft in conjunction with the Uber's initial public offerings (IPO) on the stock market. For drivers, the day of action includes ceasing operations for the companies in hopes of using the IPO, which is expected to generate billions for the companies and its owners, to invest in drivers', which Uber and Lyft have long considered "private contractors." Customers of the companies have also been asked to avoid using the applications on May 8th, 2019.

Background

On March 18th, 2019, Lyft announced an initial public offering of $72. According to PBS,^[1] "Lyft plans to offer 32.5 million shares of its company. Some of the stocks will be reserved for the company’s cofounders. The offering is raising $2.34 billion for the company and sets its value at $24.3 billion."

Weeks later, in May 2019, many expected Uber to follow Lyft and go public. Just ahead of their IPO, drivers in 10 U.S. cities participated in a strike of the ridesharing applications Uber, Lyft and Juno. In a press release, the Ride Share United drivers association wrote, "After enduring nearly two months of reduced wages in the midst of rideshare industry IPOs, the 4,400 members of Rideshare Drivers United- Los Angeles will strike both the Uber and Lyft platforms for 24 hours on Wednesday, May 8, demanding that Uber immediately reverse a recent 25 percent wage, and that both companies guarantee drivers a $28 per hourly minimum rate (or $17 after expenses), as already required in New York City."^[2]^[3]

Developments

Participating Cities

Numerous cities throughout the United States are participating in the day of action, as well as some international locations. These include New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, San Diego, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Boston, Stamford and Philadelphia.^[8] Cities in the United Kingdom, Australia and South America were also expected to participate.^[9]

Online Reactions

Numerous public figures showed support for the strike and the boycott on social media, using the hashtags #StrikeUberLyft, #AppsOffMay8 and #UberShutDown. Comedian Rob Delaney tweeted,^[4] ✊🏼🚨Global Uber/Lyft Strike Today. Uber drivers don’t have even the most basic workers’ rights. Billions go the bosses while the drivers get poverty pay. DO NOT take an Uber or a Lyft today. Walk, take a bus, carpool w/ a friend, scuba in a canal." The tweet received more than 4,000 retweets and 10,000 likes in 24 hours (shown below, left).

United States Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders tweeted,^[5] "Uber and Lyft drivers are struggling as they work for billion-dollar companies. These drivers are not 'independent contractors'--they are employees who deserve rights and benefits. I stand in solidarity with them as they strike today for a dignified life." Within 24 hours, the tweet received more than 3,000 retweets and 11,000 likes (shown below, center).

U.K. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted,^[6] "Uber cannot be allowed to get away with huge payouts for their CEOs while refusing to pay drivers a decent wage and respect their rights at work. Stand with these workers on strike today, across the UK and the world, asking you not to use Uber between 7am and 4pm."

That day, Redditor ^[7] Anarcogoth posted about the strike in the pro-Bernie Sanders subreddit /r/SandersForPresident. They included a graphic encouraging people to participate in the boycott. The post received more than 2,200 points (96% upvoted) and 150 comments (shown below).

Media Coverage

Numerous media outlets covered the strike, including the Chicago Tribune,^[8] CNN,^[9] The Verge,^[10] CBS,^[11] USA Today,^[12] Newsweek^[13] and more.