Mumbai: Ola, Uber drivers’ indefinite strike hits commuters hard
Mumbai: Lakhs of Mumbai commuters were severely hit as more than 80,000 drivers of aggregator cabs like Ola and Uber went on strike here on Monday, an official said.
“The strike has been launched from midnight in support of various demands of the drivers who are being meted out injustice by the companies. If the government fails to intervene, they shall go on an indefinite strike,” Sanjay Naik, President of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNVS), told IANS. The MNVS is affiliated to Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
“Ola and Uber” Drivers went on Indefinite Strike in Major Cities. This is what happens when you increase the expectation of your employees at the time of joining but after they join they find an actual situation is quite diffrent!! #OlaUber #Ola #UberStrike #HumanResources
— Md Saifullah Rizvi (@SaifuRizvi) March 19, 2018
Great news for BJP. The more publically these goons go about their business the clearer it will be to the public who to again vote for and who not to. #OlaUber https://t.co/tpH3C5oUxz
— Twitvention (@Twitvention) March 19, 2018
#MNS Gundagardi – Leader vandalises a Ola taxi in Kurla – They are saying that we are fighting for Ola, Uber taxi drivers, so why are they running their cars on a strike day pic.twitter.com/GUfvik3Epb
— Kirandeep (@raydeep) March 19, 2018
Ola And Uber Drivers On Indefinite Strike Starting Today In Major Cities. Main Demands:
👉Business Worth Rs 1.25 Lakh Assured In Beginning
👉Shut Operations Of Company-owned Cabs
👉Reinstate Blacklisted Drivers (low ratings)
👉Fares As Per Cost Of Vehicles
👉Stop Low Fare Booking— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) March 19, 2018
He added that several thousands of drivers of Ola and Uber had also joined the protest in Aurangabad, Nashik, Pune and other cities in Maharashtra as part of an all-India agitation.
Despite repeated attempts by IANS, spokespersons for both the companies declined to comment on the strike.
The worst-hit were people proceeding to airport or railway stations to catch flights or long-distance trains, besides local commuters rushing for business meetings. Naik claimed that both Ola and Uber had promised big returns of more than Rs 1.25 lakh per month to the cab drivers who invested beteen Rs 5 and 7 lakhs.
“Now the situation is that many drivers earn barely half the promised amount which is not even sufficient to cover their costs. The drivers are practically on the verge of starvation owing to the mismanagement by the two companies,” Naik said.
Moreover, the companies give preference to their own vehicles rather than the driver-owned vehicles, which has led to a steep decline in the latter’s business.
Owing to these, Naik said there has been drop of more than 20 percent in Mumbai alone of the cabs running on this platform, hitting both the drivers and the commuters. The MNVS has appealed to the Mumbai commuters to make alternative arrangements and “support the fight for justice” by the Ola and Uber drivers.
The Mumbai Taximen’s Union has supported the strike. Its General Secretary A.L. Quadros demanded that the Regional Transport Authority take strict action against Ola and Uber for violating permit conditions and eating into the business of autorickshaws and taxis.