_{Photo: UberX driver works a busy Friday night April 4, 2014. Photographer: Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post via Getty Images}

Michigan Rideshare Drivers Demand Better Working Conditions From Lyft and Uber

The COVID-19 global pandemic has exposed and exacerbated a number of long-standing issues in the rideshare industry.  These issues have negatively impacted Lyft and Uber drivers and caused irreparable financial damage.  While  the State of Michigan  has made an effort to reduce the virus's spread through a statewide lockdown and a moratorium on utility shut offs and evictions, Lyft and Uber have done the exact opposite,  highlighting the corporate greed and lack of consideration for frontline workers rampant in the rideshare industry. 

Although we understand rideshare drivers are 1099 contractors, we also understand that 1099 contractors are human beings and it is unacceptable that Lyft and Uber haven't stepped up to protect its primary source of revenue, the drivers.  

As a result of Lyft and Uber’s indifference to our plight, we, the rideshare drivers of Michigan, are publicly URGING that Lyft and Uber act ethically, with integrity and transparency, and in the best interest of drivers, by prioritizing people over profit!

^{Read our full statement on the long-standing issues, our grievances, and our support for AB5 here.}

Our Demands During Covid 19 Pandemic:

• Add a button asking passengers if they have specific Covid-19 symptoms, and if they do, remove the  passenger from the queue.

• Increase the pay of active drivers to 90% of revenue per ride. Especially for rides to and from hospitals and airports.

• Give active drivers masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, and anti-viral/anti-bacterial sprays.

• Require passengers to wear masks and verify prior to pickup.

• Waive or reduce (by ½) the rental fee for inactive immunocompromised drivers and active drivers.

• Give 2-4 weeks paid time off to immunocompromised drivers and drivers living with pregnant partners, children, elders, or immunocompromised housemates. This way, drivers can pay their car notes, car insurance, rental fees and any other outstanding bills.

• Waive or increase the personal miles for  drivers with rentals, as the rental fee is approximately $1,000.

• Return full rental deposits (with severance pay) to every driver who has returned a rental car during the pandemic.

• Allow drivers who returned rentals due to the virus, whether for health reasons or the slow down, receive priority to rent again at the $250 rate.

Ongoing Demands for Compensation and Communication:

• Give active drivers a more significant percentage of the earnings from rides (at least 80%), return to the original minimum of $5 per ride, or a minimum wage of $15-$20/hr Also, factor pickup distance and number of passengers, when calculating driver earnings.

• Update rideshare app to show passengers the full accounting of the fare (how much goes to the driver and how much goes to the rideshare company).

• Show drivers the estimated ride payment and distance before all trips are accepted.

• Create payment bonuses for wear and tear on driver owned cars based on easily trackable mileage and time.

• Create tailored rates, incentives, and bonuses for drivers based tenure.

• Increase the personal miles for drivers driving with rentals.

• Grandfather current drivers into the $250 rental deposit.

• Create a schedule for bonuses/challenges that are consistent and do not change downward once drivers meet set goals.

After receipt of this petition, Uber and Lyft will have ten days to contact Michigan Rideshare Driver representatives to begin talks regarding the issues highlighted in this document. If there is no movement after the tenth day, drivers will mobilize to:

• Select day(s) of action to strike.

• Inform passengers about Uber and Lyft’s exploitative behavior during the pandemic, so they too can take actions against Lyft and Uber, e.g., making arrangements with drivers to coordinate rides without the app.

• Speak to the media about Lyft and Uber’s policies to help raise public awareness.

• Work with elected officials to enact new regulations for rideshare companies in support of drivers.

• Take any additional measures to protect drivers.

We hope to come to an amicable resolution to the issues mentioned above and move forward in the best interest of both Lyft and Uber, as well as rideshare drivers, and the general public.