Uber, Lyft drivers plan 12-hour strike on LaGuardia Airport pickups Sunday
NEW YORK -- If you need a ride from LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, your options may be limited.
Uber and Lyft drivers are planning to go on a 12-hour strike. Their union is telling them to stop all pickups at LaGuardia starting at noon.
"The strike will start 12 noon all until midnight," said Uber driver Mohammed Mohammed.
Mohammed, a father of three, is one of thousands of drivers planning to go on strike at the airport.
"We're striking to get our raise back. TLC gave us a raise, and Uber blocked it, took TLC to the court and won the case," he said.
Mohammed is also a member of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which represents 27,000 drivers in the city. More than half drive for Uber and Lyft.
According to the union, rideshare drivers make 7,000 to 10,000 trips from LGA per day.
"I think it's going to be terrible for passengers who are flying in and out of New York City. I think Uber and Lyft are great services and it's not going to be the same without them," said passenger John Lerner.
Drivers are demanding their full raise for operating costs, a stop to unfair driver deactivations, more for out-of-town trips and 85 percent of their fare or the full TLC rate.
"I pay for the car wash. I pay for the gas. I pay for the maintenance. I pay for insurance. Everything," said Mohammed.
"The TLC's proposal includes changes that will ensure fairer competition within our industry. We are appreciative of them listening to our concerns and look forward to continued engagement on ways we can improve rideshare overall," a Lyft spokesperson said.
"On February 1, drivers got their third mandated raise since 2020 and now make $31.66/hour. This is the only industry in the state with a yearly required increase tied to the rate of inflation, while minimum wage workers have not had one raise since 2018," an Uber spokesperson said.
"I don't think they're getting paid enough. I think Uber takes too big of a cut, Uber and Lyft, both. These guys are out there working hard. They deserve more money," said passenger Brian Kenney.
"Most of the drivers are immigrants and they are working hard," said Mohammed.
There will be a rally a noon before the strike, the union said.