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Organized airport rideshare drivers urge Atlanta council to investigate pay, protections; announce Feb. 14 strike
Summary
During public comment at the Transportation Committee meeting Feb. 12, a group representing airport rideshare drivers said they plan a Feb. 14 strike and asked the council to investigate Uber and Lyft business practices, support protections against deactivation, and consider safety and pay reforms.
During the committee’s public comment period Feb. 12, a group identifying itself as organized airport rideshare drivers told the Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee they face ‘‘exploitation’’ and urged the city to investigate ride-hailing companies operating in Atlanta.
Mister Martinez, speaking for the group, said drivers face ‘‘unfair pay structures, unpredictable income, and lack of benefits’’ and described mistreatment at the airport and by local police. He said drivers ‘‘are striking on the fourteenth at the airport on Valentine's Day, with a a United States across the country, including Atlanta’’ and listed demands including ‘‘fair wages, deactivation protections, safety, and a right to unionize.’’
Another public commenter, Malik Ali, urged the council to support drivers’ calls for ‘‘justice and fairness’’ and framed the request as a multigenerational concern: ‘‘We are not here today to just bring a reform for ourselves, but to bring a reform for the next generation that they won't struggle in the way that we are.’’ Several additional speakers joined in solidarity during the comment period.
Why it matters: the drivers asked the city to investigate the business practices of app-based ride companies and to work with them on local policies that would protect driver livelihoods and safety. They announced a planned strike at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport for Feb. 14 and asked for a formal city response.
Council response and next steps
The committee acknowledged the comments during the public-comment segment and noted there were multiple speakers registered in support of the same topic. The transcript shows the drivers asked for an investigation and collaboration with city officials; the committee did not make a formal directive or vote on the request during the meeting.
Clarifying details
• Strike date announced by speakers: Feb. 14, 2025 (Valentine’s Day).
• Driver demands as stated in public comment: fair wages; deactivation protections; safety; and the right to unionize.
• Complainants said they had sent email outreach to council members previously and had not received a response.
Ending
The comments were recorded during the committee’s public-comment period. The committee did not record a formal motion or referral on the drivers’ request during the Feb. 12 meeting.
