Mumbai: Drivers partnering with taxi companies Ola and Uber stayed off the roads on Monday on the first day of their strike against alleged unfair policies by the aggregators. The protesting drivers received support from the MNS’s transport wing, the Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNVS).
While a similar strike call was given in other cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and New Delhi, driver unions said there was no impact in the national capital, where, senior Uber and Ola representatives claimed, it was business as usual. The other cities, too, were unaffected, they said, though a reduction in the number of taxis on the roads was noticeable in Pune.
Addressing protestors, MNS leader Nitin Nandgaonkar said they will not stop until their demands are met. He claimed the companies were forcing drivers into debt through their policies, leading to banks repossessing vehicles when they defaulting on loans. “These companies are hand-in-glove with the banks. After the banks repossess vehicles, Ola and Uber buy the same and lease them out to new drivers. They also employ bouncers, who push our poor drivers out whenever they try to complain. Let me warn them, that if our drivers decide to act, their bouncers will not be any match for their collective strength.”
Promises unfulfilled?
Among the main demands is ensuring that Ola and Uber give drivers guaranteed business worth ₹1.25 lakh. Protesting drivers claim that over time, their earnings have reduced due to policy changes . Other demands include reinstating blacklisted drivers and stopping the companies’ leasing service.
MNVS president Sanjay Naik claimed they also want the government to bring in a separate law to govern app-based taxi services. “The new proposal that Ola and Uber cabs run on CNG should be scrapped. This will cause drivers to sink deeper into debt, as they’ll have to take loans to convert their diesel vehicles into CNG ones.”
The Mumbai Police later arrested Mr. Nandgaonkar and detained 16 drivers in Andheri, as they didn’t have permission to hold a protest. A video showing Mr. Nandgaonkar breaking the windshield of a cab was circulating on social media. A senior police officer said they were investigating the incident. Mr. Nandgaonkar was arrested under several IPC sections including wrongful restraint, endangering life and personal safety and criminal intimidation.
MNS leaders said the strike would continue after a meeting with Ola officials. “Ola and Uber officials have asked us to give them until noon on Tuesday to come to a decision. Till then, our strike will continue,” Mr. Naik said.
An Uber spokesperson said, “We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver community by a small group of individuals. We are committed to serving the city, ensuring driver partners can continue to access stable earning opportunities, while giving riders a convenient option to get around their city.”
In a statement, Uber said the Bombay HC has issued an injunction prohibiting unions, their leaders and anybody else from obstructing activities of Uber driver partners. “We welcome this, it is something many driver partners have been telling us they wish to do. We have been listening to them all along and want to ensure that Uber remains an attractive opportunity for them. While the authorities have taken steps to ensure minimal disruption, we hope that they will continue to enforce the order passed by the High Court,” the statement read.
Protesting drivers were disgruntled over about a range of issues. “On an average, we earn about ₹10 per km these days. We can’t cover more than 150 km in a day,” Pawan Vishwakarma, an Ola driver partner for two years, said. Mr. Vishwakarma said diesel costs and EMIs take up about ₹1,000 per day, leaving him with only ₹500 as actual earnings. Drivers said the drop in earnings was due to new incentive structures.
An Uber spokesperson said, “We keep experimenting with our incentive structures, and the same might differ from city to city and can vary between one driver partner to another, based on the kind of incentive structures they opt for. The aim is to continue to positively impact driver earnings and improve organic earning opportunities.”
