Rideshare drivers boycott at Atlanta airport
Dozens of Uber and Lyft drivers shut down their apps at the Atlanta airport during one of the busiest holiday travel periods. The rideshare drivers told FOX 5 Atlanta they’re fed up with unfair wages from the companies they work for.
The drivers began the shutdown at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 4 p.m., the beginning of what they call peak travel hours.
The idea was to make it tough for people needing a ride from the airport. They hoped it would make the companies realize that drivers need better wages.
“As long as we protest, passengers will continue to be stranded, and maybe that will make an impact,” one driver said.
Drivers told FOX 5 that in some cases, they have received less than 50% of the fare, sometimes even less than 30% of it.
“I did a ride the other day, and she said she paid $102 for a 40-minute ride. I got $25, and that’s because I had a $5 bonus!” said Lyft driver Debora Williams. “It’s just ridiculous.”
FOX 5 reached out to both Uber and Lyft for a breakdown of how they pay drivers at the airport.
“Earnings in Atlanta are more than $30 an hour when drivers are actively working on the platform,” an Uber spokeswoman told FOX 5. “Drivers also receive fare and destination information upfront before they accept a trip and are fully empowered to decide what trips are worth their time.”
A spokesperson for Lyft told FOX 5 that pay for their drivers in Atlanta is broken down into three pillars: Upfront pay, Tips, and Bonuses.
The protest lasted for hours as more drivers gathered for the cause.
However, FOX 5 Atlanta checked in with passengers at the Atlanta airport rideshare zone. Many of them said they had no problem ordering an Uber or Lyft.
“It was absolutely no problem tonight. We got one in three minutes,” Olivia Alexander said.
The drivers who protested said they will be planning another boycott, and will continue to do so until the companies hear them.