Philadelphia Uber, Lyft drivers strike on Valentine's Day, picket at airport

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Some Uber and Lyft drivers in the Philadelphia area are looking for more love from their companies this Valentine’s Day.

Dozens gathered outside the Philadelphia International Airport Wednesday to strike for the day, demanding a better deal from the ride-hailing giants.

“Uber and Lyft, they are a fraud,” Papiekollie, who has been a driver for Uber and Lyft for more than two years, said. “They are a complete fraud.”

Wednesday’s strike was organized by the Justice for App Workers coalition, with demonstrations happening in 10 cities across the country.

Drivers said safety is a major concern for them. They also want a better process for deactivations after rider complaints, with many drivers saying there is no investigation or appeals process.

But their biggest fight is for a larger share of what customers pay for rides.

“For a $10 ride on average, Uber or Lyft takes $7. We get $3,” Fabian Romero, an organizer of the event, said. “But we have to pay the car, the insurance, the gas.”

Earlier this month, Lyft released a report stating the median net earnings for its drivers was $23.46 per engaged hour. That number rose to $25.31 for Philadelphia. But striking drivers weren’t buying that.

Mohammed Omar Farok, who has spent the last five years driving for Uber and Lyft added, “Sometimes we get a job, like Atlantic City. Sixty-five miles, $55.”

Striking drivers showed CBS News Philadelphia receipts for some of their trips. One Uber driver was paid $190.87 for a four-hour, one-way transport of a rider from Philadelphia to State College. He claims that the rider paid around $600 for the trip.

Another Lyft driver showed he was paid $64.24 for an 83-mile trip from Philly to New York City.

But Wednesday’s strike had little impact on passengers looking to catch a ride from PHL.

At around 12:45 p.m., during the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. strike, CBS News Philadelphia checked the wait time for an Uber from Terminal D. It was about five minutes.

“I clicked on the app, put in the address I was going, and he said he’d be here in three minutes,” said Shannon Hayes, a Lyft customer who is visiting Philly from or Orlando, Florida.

“We were actually sitting in Florida and her husband heard there was an Uber strike that just happened to be the time that we were landing,” Vicki Katsifis, who was returning to Philadelphia, said. “So we were a little nervous, but it worked out.”

CBS News Philadelphia spoke with some passengers Wednesday morning who are split on whether they support the strike.

“I sympathize only because the cost of living, prices of rent, food, everything in general, it’s just so high,” Iris Garcia said. “So why wouldn’t you want to pay them? The cost of living, it’s just no one can afford to live.”

“I was a union employee my whole life and I understand the company has to pass those benefits on to the employees,” said Charlotte Thiry, who is sympathetic to the ride-hailing drivers’ cause.

“I think they need to do more work and get paid,” Sandra Windley said. “Everybody wants a bag and don’t want to do the job.”

“At the end of the day, you can either choose to do it or not do it,” Andres Souto said. “So I guess I feel bad but, I mean, they chose to do Uber.”

Uber did not respond to CBS News Philadelphia’s request for comment on Wednesday’s strike.

In a statement, Lyft said earlier this month, “We are constantly working to improve the driver experience, which is why just this month we released a series of new offers and commitments aimed at increasing driver pay and transparency. This includes a new earnings commitment and an improved deactivation appeals process. Now, drivers will always make at least 70% of the weekly rider fares after external fees. It’s all part of our new customer-obsessed focus on drivers.”

Still, these drivers plan to fight on for what they say is a fair shake from the companies.

“We do have families,” Papiekollie said. “This is where we come to do our 9 to 5 jobs. We need the money.”