Uber, Ola drivers go on strike as earnings, incentives fall

In their increasingly growing push to lure more drivers to their platforms in India, Uber and its local competitor Ola seem to have irked their existing driver base.

Several drivers of both the ride-hailing service have gone on strike in Bangalore today to protest adding more cars to their fleets, claiming it’s hurting the livelihood of existing drivers.

With more drivers coming on board, existing ones are getting fewer rides. On top of that, both Uber and Ola have decreased the quantum of incentives, further hurting the drivers' earnings.

In a race to get more customers, both ride hailing services operate at loss-making tariffs and compensate drivers with incentives, which are either based on the number of trips they make during a particular time in a day or the distance they cover.

The disruption in Uber’s and Ola’s services today has naturally caused inconvenience to people in Bangalore. In some cases, drivers who weren’t aware of the protest dropped their passengers mid-way after learning about it.

"The biggest pain point in Bangalore is the drive back from the airport," one driver who took part in the strike told Mashable India. "We lose money because of the flat fare," he added, requesting not to be identified. Last month Uber drivers had stopped picking customers from Bangalore airport to protest against the flat fare.

Though the strike, the deadline of which remains to be seen, is only being observed in Bangalore, drivers in other cities have also expressed concerns about drop in their earnings and fewer customers.

Two Uber drivers told Mashable India over the weekend that the ride hailing services are giving preference to drivers who have purchased cars through their leasing programs. Both Uber and Ola are offering drivers enticing offers — including easier leasing from banks, and somewhat affordable deals — to lure more drivers to join their fleets.

“We strive to be a mobility option for everyone in Bengaluru and we regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver community by a small group of individuals," an Uber spokesperson told Mashable India.

"We remain committed to serving the city, ensuring driver partners can continue to access a stable income, while giving riders a convenient, reliable option to get around their city.”