Pearl D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 14: The users of the online taxi aggregator Uber, here, will have a brief spell of relief from Monday, August 14, as drivers have decided to temporarily call off their strike.
After almost a week into it, the online taxi drivers' association decided to withdraw the strike on a temporary basis for the convenience of people.
"The meeting with the company representatives on Saturday did not seem to have a much favourable outcome. Company representatives asked us for a deadline. Considering the many festivals in line, we decided to discontinue the strike till the first week of September. If the driver's demands are not met, agitation will continue from the second week of September," said BK Imtiaz, president of online taxi drivers and owners association, when speaking with daijiworld.
This comes as a temporary relief to the many users of online taxi aggregator Uber, most of who are students and non-residents, apart from locals who are comfortable with the online taxi service. Many users avail the services when travel is inevitable at odd hours, and public transport difficult to find.
Reason for strike
While online taxi users had reasons to be in good cheer post-GST, drivers have been troubled in the recent past. Frequent changes in tariffs and deduction in the incentives by the operators have been reasons for protest.
Drivers of the online taxi aggregators began the protest on Tuesday, August 8. Uber drivers on Wednesday, August 9, locked up the company office at Balmatta, here, during the protest.
"The rate plan has been changing once a week. Earlier, the incentive for 13 trips was Rs 4,100. But now, for 28 trips, we make Rs 3700. The incentive for less than 28 trips is Rs 2400, and for 20 trips is Rs 1,800. They want us to work 24 hours to make 28 trips. Besides, fare for trips to NITK, Derlakatte, and the Airport have been reduced to around Rs 100," said BK Imtiaz earlier.
A penalty of Rs 150 is imposed upon drivers on failing to pick a passenger. Besides, the company threatened to run cabs from Bengaluru if the strike was not called off, Imtiaz had informed.
"Ola drivers, on the other hand, called off their strike in two days as six of their seven demands were met. The company asked them for time to implement the seventh demand," he had said.
On the subject of disruption to functioning at airport and railway stations, Imtiaz had informed that there was no support provided by the company.Taxi drivers had to look after themselves.