Uber and Lyft drivers around the globe shut off their apps and refused to drive Wednesday, demanding better pay and treatment from the multi-billion dollar tech giants by going on strike. Drivers in at least 10 U.S. cities marched in the streets, gathered in airports and chanted demands.

But a rally in San Diego was sparsely attended.

About two dozen drivers collected at the transportation island at San Diego International Airport near Terminal 1, holding signs and politely telling travelers to take a cab or bus instead of hailing an Uber or Lyft. Every now and then they’d break into a chant: “They charge you more and cut our pay, ho, ho. Hey, hey.”

The collective walk out will last 24 hours and was organized by Rideshare Drivers United, an organization that represents the workers. The drivers are considered “gig” workers — independent contractors rather than employees — and Rideshare is the closest thing they have to a union. The group planned rallies in several cities, including major markets like Los Angeles and New York City.


The drivers want better pay and more stability from Uber and Lyft. They want the companies to guarantee minimum pay of $28 an hour, which amounts to about $17 an hour after car-related expenses, according to Rideshare Drivers United. Among the San Diego crowd, a chief complaint was Uber’s recently announced cut in its per-mile compensation from 80 cents to 60 cents.

Kristie Contine, who’s driven for Uber and Lyft full time for two years, said her pay has been cut in half since she first began, thanks to the tech company’s compensation changes and rising expenses to stay on the road (gas, car repairs, etc.).

“Sometimes I’m only making $6 an hour, and that’s gross pay before expenses,” Contine said. “You can’t live on that. You used to be able to make a living doing this.”

Contine used to work in telecom, installing cable for commercial buildings, but she said her arthritis prevents her from continuing that career path. Her legs are especially affected, meaning it’s best for her to work sitting down.


“I can’t go back to school to get a desk job,” Contine said. And she likes driving for Uber and Lyft. It’s just not paying the bills.

The timing of the work stoppage is especially salient, considering Uber will list on the public markets Thursday for the first time. The company’s initial public offering could be one of the biggest in history, as Uber was recently valued at up to $91 billion. That means those at the top of the ride-hailing giant are about to get a windfall of cash, which feels like salt in the wound for drivers across the nation. In London, where drivers protested earlier Wednesday, pickets chanted: “Uber Uber, you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side.”

A statement issued by Lyft indicates that full-time drivers are in the minority.

“Over 75 percent (of drivers) drive less than 10 hours a week to supplement their existing jobs,” the statement reads. “On average, Lyft drivers earn over $20 per hour. We know that access to flexible, extra income makes a big difference for millions of people, and we’re constantly working to improve how we can best serve our driver community.”


Uber issued a statement earlier praising the work of its drivers, noting its worker-friendly programs such as free online college tuition for top drivers and partial insurance protections.

It’s difficult to determine how effective the strike and rally have been.

As for the small turnout at San Diego’s rally, several drivers noted it was difficult to find parking at the airport where they were meeting. Around 1:15 p.m. — 45 minutes before the scheduled end of the rally — only 10 or so drivers remained.

“Want to call it quits, guys?” one driver said. “Looks like most of the media has left.”

