A cab ride this summer could be a sultry, sweaty affair with a cab drivers’ union deciding to start a ‘No AC in the cab’ campaign.
The move is intended to spread awareness about the hardships that cab drivers have been facing on account of what a union leader said is the inadequate commission that cab aggregation apps have fixed for them, and also the fuel price hike.
”We are starting this ‘No AC’ campaign to inform and educate not only the drivers but also the customers regarding the problems of Ola and Uber drivers in Hyderabad. We have received support from the drivers who don’t belong to our organisation. We have urged the taxi and cab drivers to join the agitation without being afraid,” said Shaik Salauddin. founder president, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU).
He said that drivers would not get confrontational with passengers, but would explain to them the hike in petrol and diesel prices over the past few months as the reason for not running the AC. The inadequate commissions and the fuel price hike have come as a double whammy for cab drivers, he said.
The TGPWU has sought intervention of the Telangana government. Cab drivers, Mr Salauddin said, require at least ₹24 at per km to turn on the AC. “We also understand the problems the customer will face in this hot weather if ACs are switched off. The government and the aggregator must sit together and solve this issue,” he said.
