Drivers protest Uber Eats revoking bonus pay for late, peak hours

SAN DIEGO ( Border Report ) — More than 30 Uber Eats drivers staged a protest Wednesday, upset with the company doing away with bonuses for drivers who work during late hours and during peak delivery times.

Isidro Júarez, one of the protesters said he has been delivering food for Uber Eats for four years.

He told reporters the company did away with bonuses without notifying drivers earlier this week.

“It’s a fee that helps us pay for some of our expenses,” said Júarez. “They normally give us a fee for working during peak hours to make sure the food is picked up and delivered and restaurants aren’t stuck with the food.”

Júarez did not reveal his face out of fear.

He said during a similar protest in another area of Tijuana, company personnel wrote down license plates and took pictures of the demonstrators.

“They used the information to block some of our accounts and blackballed some drivers, that’s why you don’t see more people protesting.”

Many of the protesters carried signs that read “fair payments Uber,” and “adjust the fees for inflation.”

Martín Cortez, another driver, said the “late night and peak hour” bonus helps them earn extra money to help offset the cost of maintaining their motorcycles.

“This means a loss of wages of up to 70 percent,” said Cortez. “We don’t have insurance, when we have an accident Uber doesn’t help us, if you get injured, it won’t pay our medical expenses.”

Júarez said the company has been ignoring their calls and is not negotiating with them.

“When you call their offices, they just say ‘there’s nothing they can do for us,’ and they recommend sending formal complaints via email to headquarters letting them know we’re upset with the change.”

Mar Medrano, Uber Eats spokesperson in Mexico, said the company is restructuring the way it compensates drivers and will offer back pay to those who did not receive bonuses they are entitled to.

She’s also encouraging drivers to get familiar with the new pay structure via their apps.

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