The strike by driver-partners of taxi aggregators, Ola and Uber, has left Mumbaikars in big trouble. The city dwellers, who are highly dependent on these app-based companies, are reaching late to their respective workplaces. The cars are in scantily available and are viciously priced.
Quite unique that direct rivals – Ola and Uber facing the same problem as their drivers go on strike in unison.
‘No cars available’ is pasted for any search even if you’re willing to pay their exorbitantly high quote…. pic.twitter.com/hX78RLqGhw— hum_bolega (@hum_bolega) March 19, 2018
The issue
Drivers owning their own taxis and allowing themselves to be part of the aggregators Ola and Uber app-based taxi hailing model are up in arms against the aggregators. The major issue of Ola, Uber cab drivers is that they are not able to recover costs due to falling business. Another concern among cab drivers is that cab aggregators give preference to cabs owned the company over driver-owned cabs.
Sanjay Naik, leader of MNVS (Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena), blamed Ola and Uber for creating an illusion among drivers that they would get high returns, when they are barely earning Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month. He later related it to state’s farmers. “The drivers are going through a crisis similar to the state’s farmers,” Naik said.
The Strike
Taxi unions, including the Mumbai Taximen’s Union, have extended support to the strike called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena. Cab drivers in Delhi, Bengaluru and other major metro cities have hinted that they too could join the strike.
Close to 60,000 cabs is reportedly off the roads in the city today. “Neither micro or mini cabs are available on Ola,” says Parnasha Banerjee, a resident of Mumbai.
The unions have also circulated messages on social media asking the drivers to stay off roads and support the strike.
An Ola spokesperson said, “We have been informed by the Mumbai Police that they have proactively taken all the necessary steps to ensure safety of commuters during the cab rides in the city.”
Why The Strike was inevitable?
Sense of betrayal and underpaid by Ola and Uber accumulated the fuel of hatred against them. This fuel ignited by the discrimination from the companies. The two aggregators used to charge a uniform and hefty 26 percent service charges from the drivers for bagging customers through their taxi hailing apps. They gave first preference to taxis owned by the aggregators themselves. This was under their financing schemes as opposed to taxis owned by the drivers themselves or by others.
So, it didn’t surprise anyone. The thing which was surprising was the government hardly successful providing any relief in transportation. Let’s see when this issue get solved and commuters can commute in taxi driven by a happy and satisfied driver,
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