Ola drivers call off three-day strike in Mumbai, while Uber’s continue to protest

The strike was called off after hours-long meeting between Ola executives and MNVS leaders

In a partial relief to commuters, drivers of Ola, an app-based taxi aggregator, called off their three-day strike on Wednesday, while Uber drivers will continue to protest.

There are an estimated 50,000 app-based cabs operating in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. (HT File Photo)

Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNVS), transport wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), called off the strike after an assurance from the Ola management.

The strike, which started on Sunday night, was called off after hours-long meeting between Ola executives and MNVS leaders in the presence of police officers in Andheri. MNVS leader Sanjay Naik said Ola has accepted their demands of reinstating the black listed drivers in phases.

Naik said Ola promised to take steps to improve monthly earning of drivers. It also agreed to remove bouncers at Ola office and depute coordinators with drivers. “Ola has agreed to provide agreements in Marathi language and stickers for cabs,” added Naik.

According MNVS, the strike of Uber drivers will continue till the firm accepts their demands. “Uber management agreed to a meeting after the intervention by Chirag Nagar police station on March 22. Hence, offline agitation of Uber drivers will continue,” said an MNVS worker.

The drivers were demanding an assured income of Rs1.25 lakh per month and stopping the use of company-owned cabs, among other demands. This was their third strike since January 2017 over the same demands. Citizens, however, bore the brunt of the strike. Disruption of railway traffic added to commuters’ woes.

Commuters faced difficulties as fewer cabs were plying. According to drivers, most of them preferred to stay off the road because of vandalism fears.

Protesters break eggs in cabs

Some MNS activists broke eggs inside cabs to thwart passengers from hiring. “No passenger will sit in the cabs because of the stink,” a driver said.

“They are doing this as the police have been taking action against them for the past two days,” said a driver. A union worker admitted that they have adopted this tactic as many drivers are plying their vehicles despite repeated appeals against it