App drivers to 'log off' on Valentine's Day as part of pay and conditions fight

'As backstage prosecute drivers we connection a large work to the customers and signifier an indispensable portion of the transport system. We merit to beryllium paid good and to person our jobs protected'

Drivers connected to respective starring apps, including Uber, Bolt and Addison Lee, program a Valentine's Day onslaught implicit wage and moving conditions.

In solidarity with operator groups from UK cities specified arsenic London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, and Brighton, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has announced that workers volition power disconnected connected February 14 for six hours, starting astatine 4pm. Due to fiscal pressures, drivers assertion they're clocking successful 70-80 hr weeks conscionable to get by. This protestation aims to unite those enduring debased net and unstable occupation prospects.

Pushing for fairer remuneration and steadier employment, the IWGB besides seeks information enhancements for drivers – these see rider individuality confirmation, systems to way complaints, and enactment structures for battle victims. IWGB president Nader Awaad declared: "Up and down the country, drivers whose lives person been torn isolated by apps similar Uber are saying the aforesaid happening – it’s clip for america to instrumentality backmost the wheel.

"As backstage prosecute drivers we connection a large work to the customers and signifier an indispensable portion of the transport system. We merit to beryllium paid good and to person our jobs protected. Instead, manufacture profits person soared astatine our expense. The authorities and licensing authorities person abandoned america to the mercy of these companies.

"We are near with nary prime but to travel unneurotic and instrumentality enactment ourselves. This log-off has reignited drivers’ religion that by uniting we tin alteration this manufacture for the better."

A spokesperson from Addison Lee commented: "We person a adjacent moving narration with our drivers, which was further reinforced successful our caller bi-annual operator restitution survey. We bash not expect to spot immoderate disruption to volumes oregon work levels connected February 14."

An Uber spokesperson stated: "As workers, each Uber drivers are guaranteed to gain astatine slightest the nationalist surviving wage erstwhile taking trips, with Uber topping up their net if they ever autumn beneath this level. The bulk of Uber drivers tin and bash gain overmuch more. Uber drivers person the state to enactment wherever and erstwhile they privation and person entree to industry-leading rights specified arsenic vacation wage and a pension, arsenic good arsenic ceremonial practice done GMB Union."

Uber besides highlighted that each its drivers person paid vacation play successful cash, adding an other 12% to their earnings, and they get a play connection detailing what Uber deducts from the riders' fares.