The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWN), comprised of drivers for e-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt, has announced that it will launch a nationwide protest today, Wednesday.
After the price increase of Premium Motor Spirit, the drivers criticised the ride-hailing companies’ modest fare increases.
According to a union statement, the increase by app-based companies ranged from 25 to 30 per cent, which was significantly lower than the union’s demand for a 200 per cent increase and a 50 per cent reduction in commission.
The drivers, who stated they could no longer work under these conditions, remarked that they had previously urged the companies to reduce their commissions on the grounds that they did not correspond to commission benchmarks in the industry.
They urged all app-based employees in the nation to be prepared to combat the threat until victory was achieved.
The statement read in part, “The union’s technical team is well-versed in the operation and technicalities of ride-hailing companies, and according to our calculations, any app company can breakeven charging below 5%, even though the union recommended a flat commission of 10% or 50% off their current commission during our last meeting, as we believe this will help us to deal with maintenance costs, spare parts, and various overhead costs, as well as the current fuel increase.”
“Because we are workers, we can no longer tolerate any app company’s dictatorial practises. As a union, we have written several letters to these companies requesting a round table discussion where we can examine various areas of concern and dialogue, but they have remained obstinate with a deliberate intent to avoid responsibility.
“As a result of this callousness, the union is instructing all of its members across the country to cease all ride-hailing services on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in protest against every dictatorial practice and disregard for the welfare and security of App-Based Transport workers in Nigeria.”