Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions.

In the U.S., Uber and Lyft drivers planned daylong strikes in Chicago; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Miami; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Providence, Rhode Island. Drivers were also holding midday demonstrations at airports in those cities, according to Justice for App Workers, the group organizing the effort.

Meanwhile, U.K. delivery drivers for Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Stuart said they would turn off their apps and refuse deliveries between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The group Delivery Job U.K., which called for the walkout, said on Instagram that the strike was B次元官网网址渁 crucial opportunity to be seen and heard by society.B次元官网网址�

Of eight delivery drivers who spoke with The Associated Press on the streets of London Wednesday, all but one said they planned to halt work at 5 p.m. Several, however, questioned whether the strike was long enough to make enough of a financial dent in the businesses.

B次元官网网址淥ne day is not effective,B次元官网网址� said Evadur Rahman. B次元官网网址淚f we strike more than one day B次元官网网址� two, three, four days B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e gonna be affected.B次元官网网址�

Rahman, a Deliveroo driver who planned to participate in the strike, said his daily pay dropped in recent months from about 140 pounds ($175) for eight hours of work to around 100 pounds ($126). He said he wanted the company to raise the minimum rate it pays per order from 2.90 pounds ($3.64) to closer to 5 pounds ($6.28).

B次元官网网址淭hey must improve the minimum pay,B次元官网网址� Rahman said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not enough for survival in this country.B次元官网网址�

Delivery Job U.K. said 3,000 people planned to strike, but it was unclear how many U.S. drivers would be participating. Uber said Tuesday that based on past walkouts, it didnB次元官网网址檛 expect the strike to have much impact on its operations.

B次元官网网址淭hese types of events have rarely had any impact on trips, prices or driver availability,B次元官网网址� Uber said in a statement. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 because the vast majority of drivers are satisfied.B次元官网网址�

Uber and other companies that rely on self-employed gig workers say those workers appreciate the flexibility of the job. But many gig workers are pushing to unionize, saying that would give them the ability to bargain over compensation, safety measures and other benefits.

In November, that unionization effort , when BritainB次元官网网址檚 top court ruled that Deliveroo couriers donB次元官网网址檛 have collective bargaining rights because they arenB次元官网网址檛 considered employees.

Deliveroo said Wednesday that it has a voluntary partnership with a union that includes annual discussions on pay and it also provides couriers with free insurance and sick pay.

B次元官网网址淩ider retention rates are high and the overwhelming majority of riders tell us that they are satisfied working with us,B次元官网网址� the company said in a statement.

Rachel Gumpert, a spokesperson for Justice for App Workers, described ride-hailing as a B次元官网网址渕obile sweatshop,B次元官网网址� with some workers routinely putting in 60 to 80 hours per week. Justice for App Workers, which says it represents 130,000 ride-hailing and delivery workers, is seeking higher wages, access to health care and an appeals process so companies canB次元官网网址檛 deactivate drivers without warning.

B次元官网网址淯ber has proven time and time again that theyB次元官网网址檙e putting profits over people. In shareholder meetings they discuss profits; thereB次元官网网址檚 no questions about safety, protection from deactivation or compensation,B次元官网网址� said Jocilyn Floyd, a ride-hailing driver, who was picketing Wednesday at ChicagoB次元官网网址檚 OB次元官网网址橦are Airport.

But ride-hailing companies say they already pay a fair wage and have an appeals process in place for deactivations.

Earlier this month, Lyft said it began guaranteeing that drivers will make at least 70% of their fares each week, and it lays out its fees more clearly for drivers in a new earnings statement. Lyft also unveiled a new in-app button that lets drivers appeal deactivation decisions.

B次元官网网址淲e are constantly working to improve the driver experience,B次元官网网址� Lyft said in a statement. Lyft said its U.S. drivers make an average of $30.68 per hour, or $23.46 per hour after expenses.

Uber said its U.S. drivers make an average of $33 per hour. The company also said it allows drivers to dispute deactivations.

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