NEW YORK — A day before Uber’s hotly anticipated IPO Thursday, slated to be one of the biggest in history, drivers for the ride-hailing company and for rival Lyft plan to strike over their working conditions and wages.
Drivers in eight U.S. cities are planning a work stoppage Wednesday, Uber’s last day as a privately held company, according to the New York City Taxi Workers Alliance. Drivers also are planning to rally in New York and Los Angeles.
The protests come as ride-hailing firms face increasing scrutiny over the sustainability of their businesses, which suffer massive losses while relying on the work of millions of drivers who are not employees.
The drivers union is calling for better job security, a livable income and a cap on the ride-hailing companies’ commission, to guarantee drivers receive 80 percent to 85 percent of a fare.
Uber is expected to raise roughly $9 billion in its IPO Thursday.
