• by Tanya Gazdik , February 14, 2024

If you're looking for a ride or meal delivery in certain cities today, think again.

“Thousands of drivers for ride-share platforms Uber and Lyft, as well as the food delivery service DoorDash are expected to strike on Wednesday, in what organizers say will be the largest nationwide protest action to date against the gig economy giants,” according toThe Washington Post. 

A 24-hour strike on what is normally a busy day for the apps are planned in at least 17 U.S. cities, including Austin, Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, Philadelphia and Orlando, according to two ride-share labor organizations.

“Rideshare Drivers United, an independent union, said that Lyft and Uber drivers would turn off their apps on Wednesday to protest ‘the significant decrease in pay we've all felt this winter,’” according to CBS News. Drivers planned rallies at some airports.

"We're sick of working 80 hours a week just to make ends meet, being constantly scared for our safety and worrying about [being] deactivated with the click of a button," stated the Justice For App Workers coalition, which represents more than 100,000 drivers. 

But Uber brushed off concerns about the strike affecting customers.

"These types of events have rarely had any impact on trips, prices, or driver availability, and we expect the same tomorrow," an Uber spokesperson told Business Insider.

Lyft announced last week that it would guarantee that drivers would make "70% or more of rider fares after external fees each week,” according toUSA Today.

Manhattan Venture Partners Head of Research Santosh Rao and Citizens JMP Securities Head Mark Lehmann says these events may create further headwinds for companies powered by the gig economy.

"These services have become an intrinsic part of the transportation fabric of all the cities, I think everybody knows that," Rao told Yahoo Finance. "I think they will settle at some point. They need to maybe compromise, the costs will get pushed down, the insurance costs and all of that will come down."