The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), the umbrella body representing drivers on the ride-hailing apps, this week notified the general public of their plans to embark on a warning strike on May 1st.
The strike action which will mainly entail a stay-off from the apps by drivers on all the platforms in order to drive home their point while registering their grievances which includes but not limited to; low fares on trip, high commission taken by the ride-hailing companies and better conditions of service.
Our ardent readers could recall that the two leading platforms increased their fares last year. Bolt for example, increased fairs in its two major Nigerian markets (Lagos and Abuja) by 15%. In February, just a few months after this increment, the company reviewed this price in what it called an “an attempt to balance the marketplace”.
This current call for a strike action further exposes the pressures on the ride-hailing companies to meet the demands of the drivers who, without them, the platforms will not be able to serve the paying public. And on the other hand, the need to appeal to the public who increasingly are facing a rising inflation coupled with a slumped disposable income and constantly enticed by competitors.
The outcome and success of the strike action will further strengthen the union as they are expected to make more demands like provision of healthcare and pension benefits despite being gig workers with these benefits.
