Ola and Uber Drivers’ Union Protests in Assam

All Assam Cab Operators’ Union (AACOU), which has been on a 72-hour strike from Monday, submitted a memorandum about their grievances to the Transport Commissioner, on Wednesday. The union had given the call, protesting against the management of Ola and Uber services for having failed in fulfilling demands of the workers despite repeated appeals.

Demanding an increase in incentives and extra bonus for duties which go beyond eight hours per day, the union has asked for minimum wage for every cab owner-driver for eight-hour service rendered daily, as per international labour laws.

The union also demanded a freeze on addition of more Ola-Uber vehicles to the existing lot, and a decrease in the commission of the app-hailing operators to 10 per cent from 26 per cent. The union wants Ola-Uber to resume all the suspended accounts of cab drivers and implement welfare scheme for cabs.

 Meanwhile, an Uber spokesperson said that the company is committed to ensuring that the driver partners are getting a rewarding entrepreneurial experience.

“We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver community in Guwahati by a small group of individuals who are resorting to violence and vandalism. We hope the injunction issued by the district court will help law enforcement authorities ensure that Uber drivers stay behind the wheel, without fear or harassment,” the spokesperson said.

However, the All India Road Transport Workers Federation (AIRTWF) has extended its support to the strike. Earlier, in February this year, opposing the policies of the BJP-led state government, AIRTWF had come out in support with the Ola-Uber drivers.

“The system should be promulgated with the introduction of newly introduced services like Ola, Uber and e-rickshaw. Also, the amount of any sort of late fine for the Uber-Olas was Rs 5 per day during Congress government. But, the BJP Government abruptly increased it to Rs 50 per day,” had said Hareswar Das, working president of Assam state committee of AIRTWF.

Recently, drivers of Ola and Uber had declared strike in different cities including Delhi and Mumbai. Offering a socio-economic upliftment of people, Ola and Uber's services were introduced in India in 2011 and 2013 respectively. A large number of people, especially from lower-middle-class, had invested in these services, hoping for a better life and wages. Due to the boom, they managed to earn well in the initial phase. Following this, people invested in these services leaving behind their low-paying jobs, some even sold their properties.

Once these companies had enough workforces, cab owner-drivers, the incentives were cut short.

“In the beginning, they charged a commission of around 15 per cent, while the drivers were earning around Rs 15-6 per km along with the incentives and other schemes, for example, for covering a certain distance or completing a certain number of rides. Now, we earn Rs 6 per km, but the commission is between 25 per cent and 30 per cent, while the incentives have been cut back,” had said Kamal Jeet Gill, president of the Sarvodaya Drivers Association of Delhi.

“So after paying such high commissions, paying for CNG, and then paying the installments for the car loan, we are barely left with anything. Most drivers do not save more than Rs 500 or so daily. Many drivers have been unable to pay even their installments. How are they going to pay back their loans while feeding their families? Many, many lives have been ruined,” he added.