Uber drivers in NYC protest company’s fare cut

Over 100 Uber drivers protested outside the company’s Long Island City offices on Monday afternoon, in reaction to Uber’s Friday decision to slash UberX fares by 15% city-wide.

A group of drivers was planning a rally at Uber’s office in Queens on Monday to complain about the fare reduction.

But the minimum rate isn’t ultimately what the drivers pocket: Uber takes a 20% to 25% cut of the fare (depending on how long the driver has been working with Uber), as well as a state sales tax of 8.875%. The more Uber polices its drivers’ behavior, the more it may look like the drivers have a point.

“When we get into the Uber business we have to buy a vehicle, so I have five years more to pay the auto”, said driver Juan Batista. “This matches what happened the last time we reduced prices in NY”.

Some drivers were handing out fliers and circulating notices on social media over the weekend urging customers not to use their Uber app for 24 hours.

A similar price cut 18 months ago, Uber officials say, prompted this new cut.

Uber, a ride sharing service, as seen through their iOS app near Central Park, New York, New York. “If for any reason they are not, we will roll them back as we have done in other cities before”. If that number is accurate, Uber is facing a significant, if not fatal, decrease in the number of available drivers. “I’ll stop driving for Uber if they keep this rate”. “We are offering to meet individually with every driver who wants to discuss their concerns and review their earnings to show how we think this is helping their business”. He accused Uber of “playing games” with drivers’ incomes. During that price cut, average hourly earnings increased by 33 percent, while average idle minutes per hour were reduced by 42 percent, according to Uber. “As we have always said, price cuts need to work for drivers”.

The base fare (the amount the meter starts at) dropped from $3 to $2.55 (17 percent) and the per mile rate fell from $2.15 to $1.75 (23 percent).

“They’re changing policy to benefit themselves, not the drivers”, Dawa Gurung, 30, said.