Uber Drivers to Stage 1-Day Hunger Strike in Hyderabad

The drivers working for the US-headquartered transportation service provider have alleged that they were not getting the promised business and were making much less money than what they had been assured.

The company, however, maintained that most of its drivers were happy with its business model.

Telangana State Cabs and Bus Operators Association (TSCBOA) said in a release here that hundreds of drivers working for Uber were shocked to learn that the company was willing to talk with individual drivers but not any union.

TSCBOA further claimed that during the talks with drivers individually, the Uber management rejected their demands regarding promised incentives and business.

The drivers purchased the cars by borrowing money at high interest rates only because the company assured them that they would be earning Rs 70,000 per month after entering into contract with it, the association said.

"Now we are left with no option but to go on agitation mode. We will hold a symbolic day-long hunger strike on Friday and decide the future course of agitation. We urge the state government to intervene as this issue pertains to lives of nearly 15,000 drivers and their families," said Syed Nizamuddin, president of TSCBOA.

A spokesperson of Uber, however, said over 99 percent of 'driver partners' on its platform were doing very well as "a new breed of entrepreneurs" and were happy being able to take advantage of Uber's "pioneering lead generation technology".

"Less than 0.5 percent of our base of driver partners in Hyderabad today expressed some concerns regarding temporary incentives. Our teams are working with driver partners on an individual basis to help address any concern," the spokesperson said.

According to TSCBOA, the drivers can't make more than Rs. 15,000 per month - as against the assured Rs 70,000 or thereabout - due to cuts in incentives and number of trips, and the management is not giving promised business to the drivers.