Uber drivers plan 12-hr protest in 6 US cities over low wages ahead of IPO

International News

Uber Technologies Inc's drivers in six US cities are planning to shut their apps for 12 hours on May 8 to protest against low wages and working conditions, two days ahead of the company's expected market debut.

Drivers in San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Philadelphia and Washington DC will shut their app on the day, when a separate protest will be carried out outside Uber's head office in San Francisco, a spokeswoman for Gig Workers Rising, a campaign for gig workers, told Reuters.
About "hundreds of drivers" are likely to join the protest, with Los Angeles and San Francisco expected to see a higher concentration of people, Clarkson said on Monday.

The drivers' demands also include employee benefit plans such as health care, holiday pay and representation in Uber's management structure.

Uber expects to price its IPO on May 9 and begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange the following day, people familiar with the matter have said.

"Uber's IPO will put millions in the pockets of executives, but the drivers who provide the service that is core to the company will get nothing, " Clarkson said.

To improve relations with drivers, Uber had announced plans to offer cash bonuses to some of its most active drivers with the option to purchase shares in the company's market debut.
Uber did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

 (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Jet will re-emerge as a robust airline: Goyal, Etihad CEO in joint message

Companies News:

Jet Airways and Etihad Airways are working together on a resolution plan to make the airline robust and viable, the two airlines said in a joint statement .
The communication comes in the backdrop of lessor actions to ground planes and threats from a section of pilots to stop flying over salary delays.

“Jet Airways, its principal shareholders, including Etihad Airways, and key financial stakeholders are working towards the finalisation and subsequent implementation of the bank-led provisional resolution plan (BLPRP) to ensure the carrier emerges as a financially strong and resilient airline. The approval of the BLPRP by the board of directors of Jet Airways last week was an important step in this direction,” Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal and Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas said in a joint statement.

“We are confident that once the BLPRP is finalised and implemented, Jet Airways will re-emerge as a viable and robust airline to reclaim its rightful place as the airline of first choice for its customers,” it said.

The statement comes four days after the extraordinary general meeting to approve the increase in authorised share capital and conversion of debt into equity. While Goyal skipped the meeting, Etihad abstained from voting on the resolution. Etihad, which owns 24 per cent in the airline, is also laying stiff conditions to infuse fresh capital. The Abu Dhabi-based airline had earlier demanded stripping Goyal of all his powers and also wants a right of first refusal and waiver from the open offer.


 Jet Airways faces a cash crunch leading to defaults in lease and loan payments. On Saturday, the airline informed the stock exchange that lessors had forced the grounding of two additional aircraft. The airline is also negotiating the early return of some of its leased planes because of fund shortage. Meanwhile pilots are also getting impatient over salary delay...Read More