Rideshare drivers at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in America have been protesting for better pay and a better split of the fares during one of the year’s busiest travel times.
The drivers have shut off their apps and gathered at the airport to send a message to companies like Uber and Lyft. They believe that their current pay is unfair and are demanding a change. Airport officials are expecting hundreds of thousands of travelers during this time, and the drivers want to make their presence known by boycotting the pick-up service for a few hours. They want to get the attention of rideshare companies by showing solidarity and demanding a fairer compensation system.
According to one driver, Devora Williams, she recently had a passenger pay $102 for a 40-minute ride, but she only received $25. Even with a $5 bonus, she would have only received $20. Williams calls this pay discrepancy “ridiculous.” The drivers are pushing for an 80/20 split of the fares, where they get 80%, and the rideshare companies get 20%.