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Here’s why rideshare drivers caravanned through Boston in protest
Protesters say app companies are making record profits while they are struggling to make ends meet.
Massachusetts rideshare and food delivery drivers caravanned through the streets of Boston Wednesday afternoon, calling on lawmakers to take action and force app companies to give drivers fair wages and benefits.
According to a news release from the Massachusetts Independent Drivers Guild, a coalition of rideshare and delivery drivers responsible for organizing the protest, the drivers honked and chanted as they drove from Allston to the State House with signs on their cars that said things like “Uber profits, drivers suffer!”
“Legislative action must be taken to improve the lives and working conditions of rideshare and delivery workers,” the release said.
This month, Uber announced a record revenue of $8.1 billion for the second fiscal quarter of 2022, beating estimates by almost $1 billion. Meanwhile, the release said, the company’s drivers are facing poverty.
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But the problem isn’t unique to Uber. The caravan also included drivers who work for Lyft, DoorDash, and Grubhub.
“We are hardly making ends meet while Uber and Lyft are making billions. It’s just not right. I’m currently juggling my bills to try and keep up,” Uber driver Omar Cruz said.
“If these companies want to keep us on the road, we need more money to survive.”
In a statement to Boston.com, Lyft said the company has systems in place to get feedback from drivers.
“From day one, Lyft has known it is critically important to invest in our driver community and create compelling opportunities for them to use our network,” the statement read. “We regularly ask for and listen to driver feedback through our Driver Advisory Council and through one-on-one relationship building. We use those insights to improve the overall driver experience and better advocate for the issues that matter most to them.”
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DoorDash also responded to the protest.
“We regularly receive feedback from Dashers in Massachusetts that the flexibility to work as much or as little as they want, schedule their work around their lives, and be there for loved ones is what drives them to do this work,” the company said in a statement to Boston.com. “We’re committed to listening to Dashers as we seek solutions that reflect their unique needs: policies that strengthen flexible earning opportunities by protecting independence and extending access to benefits.”
Uber and Grubhub were not immediately available for comment.
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According to a June report from the Economic Policy Institute, nearly a third of app workers were unable to pay their utility bills in full from their earnings, and one in five app workers are facing food insecurity.
“Rideshare workers are currently among the least protected workforce in Massachusetts,” the release said.
Even so, a 2021 study by BW Research found that Massachusetts rideshare and delivery drivers made about $26 per hour on average.
Mass IDG said in the release that the drivers are looking to unionize in the hopes that it will allow them to have a voice when determining their pay and benefits.
“We need a union to hold Uber accountable and negotiate higher pay for us drivers who are doing all the work, and taking all the risks!” Uber Eats driver Kevin Murphy said in the release.
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