Uber and Ola drivers in Mumbai call for indefinite strike from 10 December

Car and driver partners of Uber and Ola are trying to voice their claims of reduced business and dip in earnings while highlighting concerns over ‘driver suicides’.

According to VCCircle, pamphlets are being distributed among Uber and Ola car owner and drivers. As per the report, the pamphlets in question has “verified its authenticity” and the strike is to commence from December 10.

The fall in earnings, as per the complainants, is due to ‘attractive schemes’ that Uber and Ola have been offering customers but not providing sufficient benefits to driver partners.

The pamphlet reads, “As Ola and Uber partners, we will have to fight for our own rights because we are unable to fulfil the higher ride requirements (set by the cab aggregators).” (sic.)

It goes onto to say that about half of the cars partnered with the cab aggregators could be seized due to car owners not being able to service their debts. The pamphlet also warns that drivers will go on hunger strike from December 12 if the demands for better remuneration and working conditions are not met with.

Leaders of the strike claim that few drivers have recently committed suicide because of being unable to pay their loan installments. Claiming that they are currently unable to break even or handle expanses – however, this information has not been verified.

This is not the first time Uber and Ola are having to face such a situation. Several protests across cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Kochi, Hyderabad, Guwahati and even Mumbai have taken place in the recent past. Earlier this year, Ola and Uber strikes in Delhi NCR had gotten pretty ugly and reportedly cabs not willing to participate in the strike were set on fire. While we’re hoping things don’t get so serious this time around in Mumbai, here’s 3 alternatives to use if you are faced with inconvenience due to the Uber and Ola strikes.