Uber, Ola drivers’ strike cripples India commute

Scores of commuters may confront inconvenience as Uber and Ola drivers have called an indefinite strike in India from Monday. The strike will hit key cities, including Mumbai, New-Delhi, Hyderabad and Pune.

The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of Raj Thackeray’s MNS, reported the Times of India.

Over 45,000 cabs are attached to Uber and Ola in Mumbai alone.

Union President Sanjay Naik told the Times of India that thousands of drivers and partners are supporting the strike.

“Drivers are in huge debt, but the firms are favouring those driving company-owned vehicles," said Naik in a press conference on Saturday.

The protestors are demanding better earnings and more monthly incentives as some are living a hand-to-mouth existence, he said.

Drivers were making a fraction of what was promised to them when they partnered with the companies, he added.

A driver partner said they demand for a monthly income of Rs 105,000 guaranteed earlier, as their earning has turned to be less than Rs 30,000. “We need to pay for EMIs on car loans, besides operational costs,” he said.

“Earning Rs 700 a day and paying the company Rs 500 leaves us with Rs 200 a day making it impossible to survive,” he said.  

“The banks which provided loans against these cabs have seized thousands of vehicles. The drivers are unable to repay loans and run their families even after driving for over 12 hours," said a driver who operates his vehicle for both Ola and Uber.

Although few unions, such as Sangharsh Tourist Chalak Malak Sangh, have opposed the strike, many drivers may stay off the roads fearing attacks or damage of cabs, sources said.

Aggregator farms have demanded police protection for their drivers while police have warned of arrests in case of violence on streets or damage to cabs.