| Developers: | Amazon |
| Branches: | Logistics and Distribution |
2022: Driver strike due to rising gas prices
On March 16, 2022, couriers Amazon held a rally in, Los Angeles demanding that the company follow suit, and DoorDash Uber Lyft helped compensate for rising gas costs for its drivers.
Amazon Flex drivers, independent contractors who deliver Amazon packages through an app like DoorDash, use their own cars and their own gasoline for delivery. According to the American Automobile Association for gasoline prices, the average price of gasoline in the country as of March 17, 2022 was $4.27 per gallon, which is about 75 cents more than in February.
Uber and Lyft added a gas surcharge to users' trips to make it easier for drivers to spend. Meanwhile, DoorDash launched the "Gasoline Reward Program," under which delivery drivers in the United States receive a prepaid Visa credit card for business to receive a 10% discount on gasoline to compensate for rising prices. All three companies said the measures were temporary, although it was unclear when prices would return to their previous levels.
Amazon, on the contrary, did not offer any compensation for gasoline or bonuses for Flex drivers. Some of Flex's rally drivers said that up to half of their salaries go to gasoline after prices rise, and that some of them prefer to look for other jobs or work in other contracting companies.
Switching to electric or hybrid cars can also be one way to save on gasoline, but the electric car market remains inaccessible to most low-income drivers, namely, they make up the majority of drivers working in ride-hailing and Flex services. Companies such as Uber and Lyft have pledged to help drivers switch to electric vehicles to offset emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles, and Amazon has also pledged to transfer part of its delivery fleet to electric vehicles (although these electric vehicles will not be designed for Flex-contracted drivers).[1]
 | Our delivery partners play a vital role in customer service every day, "says Amazon spokesman Kelly Nantel. - We carefully monitor the situation and listen to their concerns. Amazon Flex delivery partners earn on average more than $26 per hour, which is one of the best indicators in the industry. We have already made a number of adjustments by raising prices in the affected areas to alleviate some financial problems, and as the situation progresses, we will continue to make changes to support our partners. |  |
Notes
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