Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash Could Be Disrupted on Valentine's Day

Some driver wages have plummeted in the past year.

Those planning a romantic night out for Valentine's Day on Wednesday may want to have a backup form of transportation, because Uber and Lyft drivers are planning a nationwide strike. And if you're thinking of staying in, be advised that DoorDash is also joining the striking drivers.

The strike, which is the first since Uber and Lyft went public in 2019, is being organized amid accusations that the platforms have been taking disproportionately high amounts of commissions from driver wages. Uber drivers saw their gross earnings fall by 17 percent in 2023, while Lyft drivers saw an increase of 2.5 percent, per Gridwise, a delivery driver and rideshare assistant app.

In addition to going dark on the apps, drivers will also picket outside of airports and Uber offices, two of the groups representing drivers said on Monday.

"A year into algorithmic pricing, drivers have seen incredible decrease of our pay... whatever calculations and algorithms they're using, it's absolutely useless," Nicole Moore, president of the California-based Rideshare Drivers United union, told Reuters.

"By not paying drivers a livable wage, drivers are barely able to afford the bare necessities," said Shantwan Humphrey, a driver in Dallas, TX.

The strike is coming on the heels of Lyft agreeing to pay the difference if drivers made less than 70 percent of a rider's fare, after external fees. Last year, 15 percent of Lyft drivers fell into this category.

"We think hopefully it will get more drivers driving for Lyft, but also just make the whole sector stronger," CEO David Risher said in an interview with Reuters last week.

In a Reddit thread, one driver advocated for staying online on the apps but refusing requests as they come in, to prevent the algorithm from surging and making it less likely for riders to connect with non-striking drivers.