Uber drivers protest against the company's upfront pricing system

Irate with the company's upfront pricing feature, Uber drivers in Australia decided to not pick up passengers on Monday morning.

Lobby group RideShare Drivers United (RSDU) called for drivers to turn off the Uber app between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Monday in protest against company changes that it said erodes drivers' "already poor working conditions."

One of RSDU's demands is that the ridesharing company stop using upfront pricing, and return to a system where drivers are paid for the actual time and distance traveled.

Following the footsteps of rival Lyft, Uber's upfront pricing feature launched in the U.S. back in November last year. Australian users got the feature in March.

Upfront pricing estimates the cost of a ride, allowing riders to see how much their trip will be before they book.

The RSDU said that upfront pricing shortchanges drivers, as the system doesn't take into account "unexpected traffic conditions, passenger requested stops, and/or occasional road closures."

Another demand is that Uber allow drivers to opt out of UberPOOL, which also launched in Australia in March. Drivers who opt in for UberPOOL, where a rider shares a car with other users, should be paid the equivalent of base UberX rates plus at least an extra 20 percent, reads the demand.

"Drivers who choose to take UberPool rides should be better compensated and not the other way around," RSDU's post reads.

RSDU has also asked for a 15 percent rise in UberX fares "to account for the constant increase in car maintenance and on road costs to drivers."

Uber has been contacted for comment.

UPDATE: Aug. 6, 2018, 5:56 p.m. PDT Uber responded after the protest, noting that many drivers in major cities showed up and worked Monday morning.

In a statement, an Uber spokesperson said, "We want driver-partners to be successful when using the Uber app which is why we are investing in innovative technology to encourage more riders to choose the app, and proactively share information about when and where the best times to drive are. We also continue to work on improving the driver app in response to feedback from partners."

The company encouraged drivers to give feedback about the app and driving for Uber, visit support centers around Australia, and call in to a 24-7 line for more support resources. A new driver app will come out for Australian drivers soon.

According to Uber, more than 3.8 million people in Australia ride Uber and 63,000 people are signed up as drivers for the ride-hailing app.