BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Last year in July, rideshare businesses like Uber and Lyft came to a settlement which rises minimum driver wage to $32.50 an hour.
Despite the pay raise, some drivers have some problems with the new rules. It acts as a cap to higher earnings, and drivers are only paid during active trips.
Some drivers said this has been leading to less frequent shorter trips, and drivers having to work more hours.
“[I work] 18 hours every day to make at least $250, sometimes not even $200,” rideshare driver Alejandro told WBZ NewsRadio.
Drivers have to pay for their own gas and insurance. With the current state of the economy, drivers said the total spending does not surpass what usually make.
There have also been reports from concerned drivers that Uber and Lyft have been messing with the algorithms of the app, knowing they need to hit a higher minimum wage for drivers.
In a statement to WBZ NewsRadio, Lyft said they "treat this new minimum as a floor, not a ceiling."
"We're also not seeing any indication of a major influx of net new drivers or that the rules are causing drivers to receive less rides than before. It's core to Lyft's mission to ensure drivers earn well on the platform, and we're excited to continue building on these new benefits and protections across the Commonwealth," the statement said.
Uber said in a statement that there "is no requirement for drivers to make above the guaranteed wage," but also said "the guarantee is a floor, not a ceiling, and overall, drivers in Massachusetts are making more under the agreement than they were prior."
"Trip pricing depends on a number of factors, including ensuring rides remain affordable and accessible for all communities. The factors we rely on for pricing trips today are the same factors we used before the earning standard was in place and are unrelated to how much individual drivers have already made," the statement said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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