As the debate about whether e-hailing drivers have the power to set their own prices continues to rage, the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has insisted that e-hailing companies like Bolt, inDrive and Uber lack the authority to set fares on their app.
This was disclosed in a statement to Technext signed by the national spokesperson of the union, Comrade Jossy Adaraniwon. His statement is a response to a recent threat by one of the ride-hailing companies against erring drivers.
Recall that Bolt, in response to drivers in Port Harcourt resolving to hike their fares by 50 per cent, had stated that such action is unauthorised and goes against its operating policies. The company further noted that its platform already provides drivers with flexibility through its price Bidding feature, which allows them to propose their own fares for each trip based on what riders are willing to pay.
“This ensures fair and transparent pricing for both drivers and riders without the need for any external fare adjustment or surcharge,” the company said.
Read story here: Bolt vows to permanently remove Port Harcourt drivers who hike fares by 50%
Reacting, the drivers’ union tagged the statement as an attempt to mislead the general public. The union noted that Bolt’s position runs contrary to its own policy statement, which clearly states that Bolt is not a transport company but a platform that connects drivers and riders.
“Bolt does not have the mandate or authority of app-based workers to pre-fix or set a default trip fare for either a dynamic or negotiated model app. We view their continuous fixing of prices as oppressive, unfair and unacceptable, and this will no longer be tolerated. We are the transporters, and we are the ones who know the right fares for the services we render, without overburdening the riders too. They should only negotiate their commission with us, not fix our prices,” the union said.
The AUATON also pointed out that another part of Bolt’s operating policy statement clearly excludes it from any liability whatsoever that occurs after connecting riders and drivers. Thus, if it excludes itself from any liability, it is oppressive and unacceptable to pre-set or set a default fare for drivers under any condition, the union said.
“A transportation company like God Is Good also uses an app, and they are the ones that fix their price, not an intermediary,” the union said.
AUATON rejects Bolt’s threat to block Rivers’ drivers
Last week, Technext reported that e-Hailing drivers in Port Harcourt have resolved to demand a 50 per cent price increase on every trip accepted on the Bolt app. According to a statement by the state task force chairman of the union, Comrade Dennis, the resolution became imperative after the company reduced fares while increasing its commission.
In response, the company had threatened to permanently remove such drivers from its platform, insisting that additional fares to the quoted price on the app are unauthorised and run contrary to its operating policies.
“Any driver found to be charging riders outside the app or demanding extra payments beyond the agreed in-app fare will face immediate and permanent removal from the Bolt platform,” the company’s statement warns.
Responding, the national wing of the union has condemned the threat, describing it as “nonchalant.”
“We want to categorically state that AUATON, as a union, frowns at this nonchalant threat by Bolt Nigeria. It is important to state categorically that blocking a driver in Port Harcourt will translate to blocking all Bolt drivers in Nigeria,” the statement reads.
The union also stated that at no time was there any pre-agreed or authorised in-app default or standard fare between the app companies and drivers. Rather, they have taken it upon themselves to set fares with only their interest at heart.
“Bolt and other ride-hailing apps have always undermined the importance of this major part, which directly affects earnings and returns on investment of our members in the face of inflation and the high cost of car maintenance. They singlehandedly set ridiculous fares as well as take huge commissions for themselves,” the AUATON said.
The union further advised Bolt, Uber and inDrive to host a roundtable with the drivers’ union to agree on pricing or risk drivers leaving the apps in favour of more market-friendly alternatives.
