Uber and Lyft workers fed up with predatory business models

Trust thought for today - hurray - more citizen kickback against predatory business models!

Drivers in the US are fed up of being exploited by Uber and Lyft, which sometimes mean it actually costs them to work, and are setting up their own worker-owned platform co-ops.

"They launched the Drivers Cooperative in December 2020, which aimed to give drivers a greater portion of their earnings, have profits redistributed back to them with an annual dividend, and give them assistance with auto loan refinancing. The Co-Op Ride app followed soon after, and within a few months, had been downloaded 40,000 times. Its drivers earn approximately 8 to 10 percent more than those working for Uber or Lyft, and with 6,000 members it is the largest worker-owned cooperative in the US.

“Platform co-ops offer a more democratic and equitable alternative to traditional companies, and they have the potential to create good jobs, boost local economies, and increase resilience in the face of future shocks,” says Trebor Scholz, founding director of the Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy. “In a post-pandemic world, platform cooperatives could help to build a fairer, more sustainable economy that works for everyone.”

Are there any in the UK? I deleted Uber at the start, when after two weeks I found the cars disappeared when I clicked and I was being conned. I stick with black cabs (are they a similar set up?) and a local service, but would consider this.

The rise of the citizens is well on the way as Jon Alexander great new book CITIZENS shows in spades!

Article found here