cab aggregators

Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh

Govind Rao Mohite

state transport minister Diwakar Raote

A group of protesting drivers at Ola’s office

With no assurances in writing yet, drivers’ union refuses to relent; commuters have another harrowing day with daytime temperature crossing 36°C.Strike by Ola and Uber drivers has entered tenth day as prolonged meetings between the drivers’ union and the management of thefailed to reach any conclusion.According to, though a resolution had almost been reached by Monday evening, the drivers’ union wanted an assurance in writing from the management of the two cab aggregators in the presence of the transport commissioner Shekar Channe. On Tuesday, however, the Ola and Uber management met 25 representatives of their drivers in Chakala at 4.30 pm without assenting to any of their demands in writing. With nothing to bring to the transport commissioner’s notice, no one therefore landed at his Bandra office where the police had organised heavy bandobast. The meeting between the drivers and the management was still on at the time of going to press.General Secretary of Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh,told Mirror, “We were to meet the transport commissioner with the representatives of Ola and Uber but none of them agreed to come, so we headed to their office in Chakala.” However, according to an Uber official, as the meeting was not called by the transport commissioner, “we did not think fit to go on our own”.Over 22,000 Ola and Uber drivers have been on strike for over a week for a better revenue model. The protest started on October 22, with drivers assembling outside Uber’s office in Kurla, which was followed by a meeting with. The drivers finally held a protest march at Ola office in Chakala on Monday where representatives of both cab aggregators met with the drivers’ union.Uber driver Khuddus Shaikh told Mirror he earned about Rs 40,000 per month two years ago. As a result of change in scheme policies, reduction in the number of business trips given to a driver and the rising cost of fuel has brought down his earnings to Rs 20,000 per month. Shaikh’s vehicle is on loan, with a monthly instalment of Rs 12,000. He is hardly left with anything by the end of the month.Rajesh Pawar, who has registered with both Ola and Uber, pointed out that earlier one could do business worth Rs 3,500 in merely 10 hours. Now, however, he has to “slog for 15-16 hours” to just make Rs 2,500.The drivers further complained of skewed company policies. Kurlabased driver Chandan Verma pointed out that earlier the company would give an incentive of Rs 3,500 if a driver completed 35 trips in one week, But now the driver is expected to complete 56 trips to claim similar incentive, which has also now come down to Rs 3,000. Verma said, “It is nearly impossible to make these many trips. The companies have an algorithm that ensures that the drivers stop getting trips as they near their target.”Mohammad Matiullah was previously in the construction business as a site supervisor. He bought a car and hired a driver to run it with cab aggregators. Matiullah said, “While I worked at the construction site, the driver plied the cab. But with reduced trips and slashed rates it became impossible to keep the driver. So I left my job and started driving myself to clear the monthly instalments.” For Matiullah and many others, the strike means loss of business for more than 10 days, but going back to work without their demands met means end of business. A representative of Ola told Mirror on condition of anonymity that the union leaders re intimidating drivers who are willing to come back to work.Uber spokesperson said they will comtinue to engage with all stakeholders to resume services in Mumbai.