Update, 3 July, 4.30pm
Uber South Africa has released a statement following the protest action at the Uber offices in Kramerville, Sandton.
Samantha Allenberg, spokesperson for Uber South Africa said they were aware of a small group of driver-partners who planned to go offline. “We respect driver-partners as valuable partners with a voice and a choice and we want driver-partners to feel they can talk to us about anything at any time,” she said.
“We constantly monitor fares and examine consumer price sensitivities to ensure fares are correctly priced so that riders continue to take trips and drivers have access to more fare paying passengers. If fares were to increase, then riders may take fewer trips which will ultimately lead to lower earnings.”
She said drivers have a number of channels available to engage with Uber including during daily office hours, 24/7 support and regular partner roundtables.
Allenberg provided some background to their engagement with Uber driver-partners:
- We’re committed to supporting the men and women who drive with Uber across South Africa which is why since the start of the year, we have invited more than 3 500 driver-partners across the country to sit down with us and share their feedback about their Uber experience
- The purpose of these sessions is to hear firsthand from driver-partners about what is working and what needs improvement (over and above the feedback from our other communication channels)
- These sessions are one of our most important channels for connecting with partners and we have made a number of changes to features, processes and policies based on their feedback.
- To ensure that these sessions continue to be mutually beneficial, we recently sent a satisfaction survey out to these more than 3 500 driver-partners to get their feedback on these engagement sessions
- It is our aim to continue engaging with more drivers across South Africa.
Incentives and guarantees
- While we complete a deeper study of driver economics, we launched a temporary winter incentive prior to the recent fuel price increase last month to help reduce the impact of fuel increases. This is designed for driver-partners who do a certain amount of trips and is calculated based on information provided by drivers and fuel efficiency statistics of their vehicles
- We understand that fuel is one of the biggest weekly expenses for drivers which is why drivers can also access rewards that help them reduce costs and keep more of their earnings. This exclusive programme provides deals such as fuel rebates, cell phone deals, maintenance and health care.
Update, 3 July, 2.30pm
@Sandton_News an #Uber operations manager has accepted the memorandum on behalf of #Uber. They have been given 2 days to respond. pic.twitter.com/prkU2Xx2Ts
— Pieter Dempsey (@Will_Diomasaigh) July 3, 2018
Update, 3 July, 1pm
Update, 3 July, 12.34pm
@Sandton_News #UberTaxifyStrike @saps and #metro ready to calm the situation. pic.twitter.com/qK41ywrs8c
— Pieter Dempsey (@Will_Diomasaigh) July 3, 2018
Update, 3 July, 11.15am
@Sandton_News #UberTaxifyStrike driver partners stops in the road as the convoy slowly approaches. No @JMPDSafety on scene yet. pic.twitter.com/dU7MMzzcnS
— Pieter Dempsey (@Will_Diomasaigh) July 3, 2018
Update, 3 July, 10.39am
@Sandton_News at the @TheGautrain in #Sandton. @Uber and @taxify_za drivers are stopping other drivers from doing pickups and telling them to join them. pic.twitter.com/lFSYwtLyJO
— Pieter Dempsey (@Will_Diomasaigh) July 3, 2018
Update, 3 July, 10am
The #Uber and #Taxify driver-partners are planning to shut down Gautrain stations and airports before they reach the app-based transport services' offices. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/f5CHDuKI4O
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
#Uber and #Taxify protest is protected and they say by at least 11 today, they want to be around app-based transport services' offices. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/33D1LxkrfB
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Update, 3 July, 9.30am
Some driver-partners are forced to park at Zoo Lake from Jan Smuts and traffic is still a bit of a hassle. #UberTaxifyStrike @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/m1nzisJlOB
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
#Uber and #Taxify driver-partners are still gathering some of the drivers before holding a follow-up meeting. The stopping of cars is still causing traffic disruptions. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/RSVaIwbCLr
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officers are at least trying to control traffic to flow smoothly at Zoo Lake during the #Uber and #Taxify protest. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/RC7GopXZyL
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Driver-partners are now gathering to discuss a way forward following two weeks of waiting for response from #Uber and #Taxify. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/2Ri4iuiaA9
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Update, 3 July, 8.20am
#Uber and #Taxify protest is currently building up at #ZooLake. @RK_Gazette
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
The cars are currently coming in and it is said that #Uber and #Taxify has not responded to a memorandum submitted on 18 June. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/KlfQzwu0Vx
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Some of the #Uber and #Taxify driver-partners are guarding if some of their drivers are working and have tried to stop of their colleagues who've went online. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/FV2ysCQpry
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Traffic is not an easy flow around Zoo Lake in Jan Smuts as some #Uber and #Taxify driver-partners are busted with clients in their cars. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/6j1bOPCnqJ
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Some of the #Uber and #Taxify driver-partners have their cell phones confiscated to ensure they don't get in touch with clients. @RK_Gazette
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Driver-partners found with clients in their cars on Jan Smuts Avenue are advised to drop off their clients and come back to join the #Uber and #Taxify protest. @RK_Gazette
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Driver-partners almost resort to violence after one of the drivers refuses to join the #Uber and #Taxify protest. @RK_Gazette pic.twitter.com/dxGBmHQxwW
— Libra Scales⚖️ (@KoketsoRatsats3) July 3, 2018
Earlier, 3 July, 6.46am
Uber and Taxify driver-partners will embark on another strike on 3 July. The drivers are unhappy with the feedback from the app-based transport services after their first strike on 18 June when they gave Uber and Taxify a grace period of two weeks to respond to their memorandum.
One of the driver-partners told Rosebank Killarney Gazette, “The following protest will be bigger than the last one and we will have more driver-partners coming forward as well because Uber and Taxify are not budging on our demands.”
The drivers had submitted a memorandum of demands at the Uber and Taxify offices, where they promised they would strike again if there was no response after seven days, however, the drivers gave them more time.
Two weeks later they are still dissatisfied with the monthly pay they receive and are also objecting to the lack of consideration for their safety.
Taxify had previously told Rosebank Killarney Gazette that they have upped their prices but the drivers are saying all they have been doing is misleading people by releasing a statement saying the transport charges have increased.
The driver said, “The only increase is 50 cents difference because it was R7 and they want to take it to R7.50 per kilometre, so it does not make much of a difference.”
What is your take on the strike? Share your thoughts with us by emailing koketsor@caxton.co.za
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