Rideshare drivers plan airport strike on Valentine’s Day

Rideshare and delivery workers aim to send a message to their employers on Valentine’s Day that they’re “tired of being mistreated by the app companies,” via a daylong strike on Feb. 14.

The demonstration – which could see thousands of drivers for Uber, DoorDash, Lyft, and others striking for fair pay – is being organized by the industry association Justice for App Workers. The group said on its website that the strike is focused on airport rides. 

“We’re sick of working 80 hours/week just to make ends meet, being constantly scared for our safety, and worrying about being deactivated with the click of a button. Across the country, in Austin, Chicago, Hartford, Miami, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, and Tampa, we’re not taking rides to or from any airport on February 14,” the group said on its website. 

The group specified on its website that they are targeting airport rides from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Chicago, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Austin and in Rhode Island. 

Uber released its quarterly earnings report in early February, indicating that 2023 was the first time the company has achieved profitability since going public in 2019. The company reached a net income of nearly $1.9 billion in 2023, and revenues were up by roughly 17% to $37.3 billion. 

The company’s grocery and restaurant delivery business saw revenues up 6% in 2023, to $3.1 billion.

DoorDash responded in an email response to questions, saying that the platform is “always listening to Dashers and looking for ways to improve the platform.”

“We’re extremely proud that millions of Dashers have turned to DoorDash to help reach their financial goals by earning how, when, and where they want — and they’ve earned over $35 billion doing it,” DoorDash said in the statement. “That said, we do not expect any significant impact on Valentine’s Day.”

An Uber representative also responded to Supermarket News, similarly noting that they do not expect significant disruptions on Valentine’s Day and that a similar demonstration last year resulted in an increase in Uber trips across the country. 

Uber also noted that, “More drivers and couriers are choosing to work on Uber than ever before.”