Some Uber Drivers Calling For Super Bowl Strike To Protest Fare Cuts

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some Uber drivers are calling for a Super Bowl strike on Sunday to protest the company's recent fare cuts.

Strike organizers are urging drivers to #SHUTDOWNSUPERBOWL by turning off their apps from 4 p.m. Sunday to 4 a.m. Monday.

Uber cut its prices by 15 percent, saying the fare reduction would mean more work for drivers. The base fare on UberX dropped from $3 to $2.55, with the per mile rate going from $2.15 to $1.75. UberXL saw drops of similar levels.

But some drivers said the company needs to either raise the fares again, lower its commission or both. Others feel locked into Uber because they are financing their vehicles.

A spokesman for the strike said the fare cut is too much for drivers to absorb.

"This is forcing people with luxury vehicles that cost $75,000, $100,000 to do fares that are cheaper than a taxi," the spokesman told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria.

Another Uber driver said he'd probably make more money selling donuts.

"I can hardly pay the bills," he said. "It's like minimum wage right now."

Uber issued a statement, saying: "At Uber we've worked hard to create a great service for partners, where they can earn money on their own terms. Drivers control where and when they work, and they are free to use other apps at the same time as they're on Uber. It's why tens of thousands of New Yorkers have partnered with us over the last four years. Of course there's always more we can do--and we are always happy to talk with drivers about what they'd like to see next."

It's estimated that there are 35,000 Uber drivers in New York.

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