Uber, Lyft drivers mount Valentine’s Day strike

Ride service drivers with the national coalition Justice for App Workers are refusing gigs on Wednesday to protest for higher wages. The coalition represents over 130,000 drivers and planned a strike at airports across the South, Northeast, and Midwest, with rallies from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It also names the food delivery service DoorDash among the apps from which workers are striking. Rideshare Drivers United of California represents over 20,000 members and is planning a separate afternoon walkout on Valentine’s Day, with a picket line outside an Uber office for drivers, called a “Greenlight Hub,” in Los Angeles.

What airports are being affected? Rideshare Drivers United of California did not name specific locations for a targeted strike, only saying, “Drivers are turning off their apps and calling for a global day of driver action.” Justice for App Workers named 10 airports where drivers will be striking and hosting rallies. Several locations are some of the largest airports in the state, including O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania. Three of Florida’s largest airports also could be stalled—Orlando International, Miami International, and Tampa International. An Uber representative gave a statement doubting the strike’s impact, noting “the vast majority of drivers are satisfied.”

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report in WORLD Magazine on New York City food delivery drivers receiving a wage boost.