Drivers for ride-sharing service Uber are planning on protesting the company's cutting of mileage rates down to, critics claim, barely over one-third of the rate it charged when the service debuted in the Tampa Bay area.
According to a media release, the per-mile rate the company charged riders in the Tampa Bay area prior to Saturday was $1.80. Last weekend, though, that rate fell to 65 cents, which some drivers are saying isn't enough money to maintain and operate their vehicles, let alone make decent money.
They added that the change came without much notice for drivers Saturday, which compelled dozens to plan direct action to protest the rate drop.
A spokesman for Uber said the plummeting rate was in response to a perennial winter slump when it comes to demand for rides; riders tend to use the service less often. The lower rates, which drivers in over 100 North American cities are seeing, are supposed to attract more riders.
From a blog post on Uber's site explaining the rate drops:
Higher demand means more time moving people, less time spent waiting around and more money for drivers. And if drivers aren’t busier, prices will go back up again. In addition, we are guaranteeing earnings for drivers to ensure that no one is disadvantaged. That’s 24/7 incentives to put drivers at ease.
Thursday's direct action, organized by a collection of Uber drivers, takes place from 4:30-6 p.m. at Lykes Gaslight Park.
This article appears in Jan 7-13, 2016.