Mumbai’s Ola, Uber Drivers Call for Indefinite Strike Over Low Pay

The transport wing of the MNS has called for a strike of drivers of cab-aggregators Uber and Ola starting midnight of Monday, 19 March.

(Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Twitter/@OlaCabs)

Drivers of the app-based cab aggregators Ola and Uber went on an indefinite strike in Mumbai, protesting their low earnings.

The strike has been called by the Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which claims that several drivers of these cabs are not able to cover costs due to the falling business.

We expect the cab companies to come to the table today and discuss with the government how they can come at par with the black and yellow taxis, and other public modes of transport. If there is no meeting or resolution, then we shall decide on our next course of action.

Sanjay Naik, President of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena

In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 app-based cabs but a slump in the business has seen a drop of about 20 percent in their numbers.

The cab companies, Ola and Uber, have declined to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police ensured that necessary steps were being taken for the safety of commuters.

Naik had earlier alleged that taxi-hailing companies were giving first priority to company-owned cars rather than driver-owned vehicles, causing a slump in their business.

(This copy has been updated.)