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Digital taxi drivers go on strike today in wage protest

UBER

Striking Uber drivers at Uhuru Park on March 2, 2017. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Taxi drivers will on Tuesday down their tools in a push for implementation of better pricing by the dominant app companies, which they say have continued to ignore terms of a deal entered into in July.

They claim that low fares charged by US-based Uber and Estonian software firm Taxify have contributed to the conflict between taxi drivers and the owners of vehicles they drive.

They are aggrieved that the dominant companies have been engaging in price wars, much to the detriment of the drivers and third party vehicle owners who are never consulted on changes.

The drivers say this has led to all-time low fares that have reduced their earnings to an unsustainable level.

According to Mr Wycliffe Alutalala, the secretary Digital Taxi Forum, “nowadays, many prefer taxi because the charges they get are more favourable than public transport.”

He said they were not interested in carrying everybody but only the few who will be ready to pay the charges which are contained in the MOU signed in July.

“Taxi is a luxury transport and those who want to take this option should be prepared to pay for it. As investors in this industry and key stakeholders, we say no to more oppression by digital apps.”

The Ministry of Transport had on July 10, agreed to sign a MoU with digital taxi drivers after a lengthy meeting to iron out grievances that saw them down their tools.

Transport Principal Secretary Paul Maringa, who chaired the talks at his Transcom House office, had stated that the department had agreed to sign a MOU with the drivers that includes a pricing structure.