Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渁 crucial opportunity to be seen and heard by society.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淥ne day is not effective,91裸聊视频� said Evadur Rahman. 91裸聊视频淚f we strike more than one day 91裸聊视频� two, three, four days 91裸聊视频� they91裸聊视频檙e gonna be affected.91裸聊视频�

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).

91裸聊视频淭hey must improve the minimum pay,91裸聊视频� Rahman said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not enough for survival in this country.91裸聊视频�

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 didn91裸聊视频檛 expect the strike to have much impact on its operations.

91裸聊视频淭hese types of events have rarely had any impact on trips, prices or driver availability,91裸聊视频� Uber said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 because the vast majority of drivers are satisfied.91裸聊视频�

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 Britain91裸聊视频檚 top court ruled that Deliveroo couriers don91裸聊视频檛 have collective bargaining rights because they aren91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淩ider retention rates are high and the overwhelming majority of riders tell us that they are satisfied working with us,91裸聊视频� the company said in a statement.

Rachel Gumpert, a spokesperson for Justice for App Workers, described ride-hailing as a 91裸聊视频渕obile sweatshop,91裸聊视频� 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 can91裸聊视频檛 deactivate drivers without warning.

91裸聊视频淯ber has proven time and time again that they91裸聊视频檙e putting profits over people. In shareholder meetings they discuss profits; there91裸聊视频檚 no questions about safety, protection from deactivation or compensation,91裸聊视频� said Jocilyn Floyd, a ride-hailing driver, who was picketing Wednesday at Chicago91裸聊视频檚 O91裸聊视频橦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.

91裸聊视频淲e are constantly working to improve the driver experience,91裸聊视频� 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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