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August 31, 2024 – Hundreds of Uber and Lyft rideshare drivers in Nashville, Tennessee, voted to strike at Nashville International Airport on Friday, August 30, warning of a “ruined holiday” as the city prepares for a wave of holiday visitors over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The newly formed Tennessee Drivers Union is taking steps to raise awareness of its demands for better wages and working conditions.
A fleet of ride-hailing drivers will make their way through Nashville’s tourist hotspot Lower Broadway entertainment district after the airport strike.Tennessee sees record $30.6 billion in tourism spending in 2023.
Workers are fighting for better compensation amid accusations that Uber and Lyft may keep more than 60% to 80% of a ride’s cost. They are also calling for expanded bathroom access at Nashville’s airport, restrictions on scooter use at night, limits on the number of rideshare drivers allowed on the road and a ban on out-of-state drivers over delays drivers may face in getting their fares.
“Most Tennessee Drivers Union (TDU) drivers work 12-hour days every weekday for rideshare services. They rely on rideshare for a living, and Uber and Lyft are their only income,” the Tennessee Drivers Union said in a statement. “The drivers refuse to continue letting big companies like Uber and Lyft profit from their work. They want Nashville to hear their fight. This strike will be the first of many ruined vacations for Nashville tourists. Unless their demands are met, Tennessee and its visitors may face further disruption.”
An Uber and Lyft driver in Nashville who has been working for six years and requested anonymity for fear of retaliation said he and other drivers are organizing over poor conditions and treatment, which he said have only worsened since he started driving, with rates rising while drivers’ wages have fallen.
“The drivers do everything. Gas comes from your wages and car maintenance because it’s a personal car, so if they only give the driver 45 percent of the rate, it puts everybody in a bind,” he said. “In one hour, I can drive from the airport to downtown or downtown to the airport and make $8 to $10, and then in another hour I can make $17. We need a steady paycheck.”
He noted that drivers can face long delays while waiting for passengers to arrive. He also claimed rideshare drivers are treated unfairly because they are fined without warning and that airports do not provide proper bathrooms.
“That’s why we came together,” the driver added. “In the current economic situation, it’s really hard to meet family needs or survive. We are fighting for our rights. We also don’t want Uber to overcharge passengers. When they keep 50 or 60 percent of the trip price, they expect us to receive tips from passengers, but the way things happen is that we understand people are going through hardships, so not everyone tips.”
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