Really Uber? Give Them A Break...Talk Is Cheap....I Call B-S.

I use UBER about 30 times a month, and most drivers are FIVE STAR, salt of the earth kinda people. And today they are taking a stand against and striking about decreasing wages while UBER execs determination to create shareholder value as they launch their IPO.

They're striking not because they want to...because they need to.

Time Magazine reported today, that Uber’s IPO will make some people billionaires while potentially driving down pay for others is symptomatic of the growing inequality in today’s American economy. Driver's pay has steadily declined since UBER disrupted the transportation market when launched in 2009. In many cases, UBER drivers receive just 50% of the fare...seriously? That's a helluva surcharge!

You and I both know the stories of these drivers: "it's my way to earn extra money", "my kids are in college", or "I'm working my way through school", "it affords me a flexible schedule so I can take care of my kids" or "I'm retired and social security doesn't cover it".

I've met these hard working people like Maizy, who it the prime example of the UBER business model: a single mom, three kids in college, immigrant with no college education, supporting elderly parents - and making ends meet by working hard and following the rules.

This was her, today, waiting for me outside my hotel:

In response to the strike today, UBER issued this statement to Vox: https://www.vox.com/2019/5/8/18535367/uber-drivers-strike-2019-cities

“Drivers are at the heart of our service─we can’t succeed without them─and thousands of people come into work at Uber every day focused on how to make their experience better, on and off the road,” .... “Whether it’s more consistent earnings, stronger insurance protections or fully-funded four-year degrees for drivers or their families, we’ll continue working to improve the experience for and with drivers.”

UBER NEEDS TO DO BETTER...

As a professional communicator - I look at this statement in disbelief. The right way to state the first line is, 'drivers are at the heart of our service. THEY ARE THE REASON we are successful. They are hard working, dedicated people, all across the world focused on supporting their families and making the community a better place.

"Continue working" is cheap talk because what they've done is next to nothing. So really, it's 'continue doing nothing'...

Hey UBER....What has the company done so far? What are you doing now? What tangible (not kick the can down the road) measures are you taking to make a difference and truly be the GAME CHANGING, disruptive company you set out to be???

I call upon UBER's future shareholders to stand up for the drivers and demand a more equitable pay structure. One that rewards hard (and sometimes dangerous) work.

I also call upon corporate communicators crafting messages for your leadership to keep it real.

Talk IS cheap and in todays world of hyper connectivity - it's really easy to call out the B-S ....SO DON'T SUGAR COAT THE TRUTH. Align your actions, and your areas for improvement, with your messages.