The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria, AUATWN, comprising drivers of e-hailing companies such as Bolt and Uber, today commenced a nationwide strike.
The drivers said the strike is a result of the recent increase in the price of petrol, contending that the low fare increase by the ride-hailing transport companies is not sustainable at this time.
They said in a statement that the increase by the app-based firms stood between 25 to 30 percent, which was far from the union’s demand for a 200 percent increase, and a 50 percent reduction in commission respectively.
The drivers said they cannot work under these conditions, appealing to the companies to reduce their commissions on the ground that they did not reflect industry benchmark commissions.
The drivers promised not to go back to work until their demands have been met.
According to the statement, “The union’s technical team is versed with the operation and technicality of ride-hailing companies and on our calculations, any app company can breakeven charging below five percent even though the union recommended a flat commission of 10 per cent or 50 per cent off their current commission during our last meeting, as we believe this will help us to cope with maintenance costs, spare parts and various overhead cost and the current fuel increase.
“We can no longer tolerate any act of dictatorial practices by any app company because we are workers and as an organised union, we have written several letters to these companies for a round table discussion where we can look at various areas of concern and dialogue but they have remained adamant with a deliberate intention to avoid responsibility.
“So, as a result of this insensitivity, the union is directing all its members across the nation to shut down their service on all ride-hailing applications from Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in protest against every dictatorial practice and lack of concern for welfare and security of App-Based Transport workers of Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, customers of Bolts and Uber have started feeling the impact of the strike. Some of them informed the magazine on Wednesday that the missed their appointments due to the strike.
