NYC Uber drivers protest fare cuts outside Queens office: ‘After we pay the commission...we are not making anything’

NYC Uber drivers protest fare cuts outside Queens office: ‘After we pay the commission...we are not making anything’
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uber-drivers-protest-fare-cuts-queen...
BY DAN RIVOLI NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Monday, February 1, 2016, 2:56 PM

Uber Driver Protest
CBS New York

Angry Uber drivers hit the streets outside of the app’s Queens office on Monday to protest against cuts to fares.

Drivers at the rally outside the company’s Long Island City, Queens, office Monday said the fare cuts made it harder to earn a decent income, while Uber continues to rake in a 20-25% commission off each ride.

“After we pay the commission…we are not making anything,” said driver Afsal Khan, 28.

He and other drivers said they’ll have to hustle harder to make the same amount of money.

Khan said he usually did 80 trips a week.

“Now, I have to do 120 trips to make the same money,” Khan said.

Amit Agniho, 48, said he didn’t know if he could squeeze in more hours behind the wheel of an Uber.

“I already work 12 hours,” he said. “More than 12 hours is so hard to work.”

Drivers who use the low-cost UberX and XL services last week were sacked with a 15% cut in fare rates, including a drop in the minimum fare to $7, from $8.

At the rally organized by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, the group’s director, Bhairavi Desai, stood on top of a dirty pile of snow to lead the drivers in a chant, “lower the commission, not the fare” and “respect the drivers.”

The hacks, who are called driver-partners at Uber, said the app is not acting like a partner.

“They’re changing policy to benefit themselves, not the drivers,” Dawa Gurung, 30, said.

Uber contends that cheaper rides for customers means more trips, so workers will make up the lost income.

Victor Salazar holds up a “Driver Power” sign at the Queens protest.
A spokesman said Uber will try to show drivers the benefits of lower fares.

“We are offering to meet individually with every driver who wants to discuss their concerns and review their earnings to show how we think this is helping their business,” the spokesman said.

drivoli@nydailynews.com