Mumbai: The Ola and Uber driver strike in Mumbai, suspended until Tuesday, is set to resume on Wednesday if the Maharashtra government fails to address their demands.
The strike was initially called off on Saturday, allowing the government to respond to issues like fare rationalisation, the establishment of a welfare board for drivers, and restrictions on new permits. The Maharashtra Gig Kamgar Manch confirmed that the strike is merely suspended and will restart if demands remain unmet.
Key driver demands include:
Drivers advocate for fare alignment with traditional taxis.
A financial and legal support board for app-based cab drivers is requested.
There's a push to limit new cab and auto-rickshaw permit issuance.
Protections under the Maharashtra Gig Workers' Act for taxi workers are sought.
A review of aggregator platform operations regarding surge pricing and driver ID blocking is desired.
If unresolved by the deadline, drivers plan an escalated protest on Wednesday. According to a report by NDTV, passengers have been asked to de-board in various locations across Mumbai due to the impending strike. A cab driver from Navi Mumbai highlighted their demand for a fixed rate per kilometre, contrasting current inconsistent rates with a previously established government-fixed rate of Rs 32 per km for AC taxis.
Cab unions have discussed these concerns with Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who has promised a solution within 15 days. Nevertheless, drivers remain skeptical, recalling previous unfulfilled promises. Sarnaik acknowledged the reasonableness of the demands and assured adjustments in policy would be made.
