wHensimon Waite began working as a private rental driver in 2017. It gave him the flexibility and income to spend time with his children. “School is my son’s soccer, and I was able to make money in my life,” he says.

But over the past few years, the 41-year-old Waite from Hertfordshire says he has to spend dramatically more time on the roads to make a living. “It took me about 50 hours to make £1,000 a week a few years ago, but now it’s about 70 hours. Most drivers will need to pay insurance, taxes, vehicle fees, maintenance, fuel, license, rent, bills, and maintenance fees. Living costs.”

Waite claims that drivers reduced fares to compensate for costs after the Supreme Court was classified as eligible to acquire workers’ rights, such as holidays and sick pay in 2021.

To challenge his working conditions, Waite will not work for the private rental driving app on Valentine’s Day from 4pm to 10pm. He has taken part in logoff actions against Uber, Bolt, and Addison Lee and withdraws his labor Thousands of others Requires better pay, rights, and safety measures.

Friday’s action is organized by three drivers and supported by the Independent Workers Union UK (IWGB). “The driver reports that he just got worse. [2021] The ruling responded to the enforcement of rights by lowering its fees,” the IWGB said. Approximately 200 drivers from cities across the country contacted the Guardian and shared their opinions on the actions.

Wait, who is signed up with Bolt, says Uber is a great app that “has done so many amazing things about how people avoid it.” But he says the decline in wages has “at a place I can’t.” He is considering quitting his job.

Valentine’s Day action is about raising awareness among drivers [and] We build that momentum,” Waite said. “We’re going to strengthen Uber and run this system. If we’re united, we can actually make changes.”

Another driver scheduled to log off on Friday is Isaac Mohammed, 30, a part-time Cardiff driver since 2016.

“It used to be the best ride app, but things have changed dramatically over the past two years,” says Mohammed. It was often 3 pounds per mile.

“Today, having a takeaway for me is considered a luxury,” he says. “Unless you live in your car, it’s very difficult to survive.”

The core issue of Mohammed is what counts as working time. Uber calculates it from when the ride is accepted until the passengers leave the exit, but he says this doesn’t take into account the time they wait for the ride.

Also involved is Kieran Airey, 36, of Merseyside, driving for Uber and a local private employment company. He says he realized in early 2024 it was taking time to reach his £200 a day goal. This meant rising from 55-60 hours a week, up from 45 hours. “At one point, I was basically working seven days a week,” he says.

He had to take his 14-year-old son to soccer and had to take a weekend nap, as he had eaten a processed microwave meal rather than a home-cooked dinner due to increased fatigue. So, “I had enough energy to do the job then, then.”

Airey says he is frustrated with the lack of transparency around the algorithms and payment structure. “I just want to make fair payments for fair work,” he says.

Uber claims that drivers are being paid unfairly. “Uber offers a national living wage guarantee for all drivers, and while they can earn money below that level, most drivers can make more money,” the spokesman said. Ta.

“All drivers are paid weekly as cash, representing an additional 12% of the revenues paid each week.

A spokesman for Addison Lee said the company has “close collaboration with our drivers” and “doesn’t expect to see disruptions with volume or service levels” on Friday. I contacted Bolt for comment.

Gavin, a 45-year-old driver from Uber and Bolt of Birmingham, says he sympathizes with some concerns but has not taken part in the action.

“I really have to thank Uber for giving me this opportunity to acquire a private employment driver,” he says. More than his previous work.

But with Martin Hayward, 54-year-old Southampton, a private employment driver for 20 years, joining in, he says the logoff action hasn’t gone far enough to make an impact. “I’m happy to log off for a week,” he says.

He claims he could earn around £750 a week ago by October last year, but now he’s earning around £450 in the same time.

“I work seven days a week for under £500. I don’t have a social life,” he says. “The worst thing about being a driver is always having a place to have a good time, whether it’s a theatre, a holiday, a trip, or a cruise. You’re just thinking… I’m not going to do these things. you can’t.

“It’s just putting you on the floor.”