"Uber Eats drivers strike in protest against fee cut", 22 January 2021

Uber Eats drivers have embarked on a strike...in protest against a recent fee cut...

According to Duane Bernard, spokesperson for a national group of drivers, some couriers in the Western Cape and Port Elizabeth are also not doing deliveries...

In response to pressure from restaurants, Uber Eats last year lowered its delivery fees from 30% per delivery (plus 5% to the driver), to a capped fee of around R9 per meal, says Bernard.

This has contributed to a fall in earnings, with Bernard claiming that some drivers have seen their average earnings halve in the past three years.

Bernard says drivers are currently getting a “pick up” fee of R10 per delivery, plus R4 a mile (1.6km)....

Drivers are demanding a pick-up fee of R20 and then R6/km after the first 2km...

...the drivers also want a minimum of R30 for the first two kilometres for courier deliveries as part of the Uber Connect delivery service...The drivers also want Uber to limit its courier deliveries to less than 100km, as many drivers use scooters and can’t access the highways.

In addition, the drivers object to their accounts being blocked "for no apparent reason", and they also want Uber to stop using labour brokers. They claim that applicants who apply via these third parties have to pay large fees – but if they apply directly, they end up waiting many months to get activated on Uber Eats...

Uber Eats says the recent cut in its delivery charges should boost demand "so more people are ordering more often through the Uber Eats app". 

"As a result, delivery-partners will spend more time making deliveries and less time sitting idly waiting for orders."

The company says it is paying "temporary incentives" for drivers to maintain their earnings.