Uber and Ola drivers asked to approach Labour Court to get their issues addressed: Transport minister

Karnataka government on Thursday asked the striking drivers attached to cab aggregators Uber and Ola to approach the Labour Court, as their strike with charter of demands entered the second day. “It doesn’t come under our purview…government doesn’t have anything to do with the contract signed between the Ola, Uber, cab drivers and owners,” Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy told reporters in Bengaluru. He said “As they approached us I had asked the Commissioner (Transport) to conduct meetings. Five meetings were held, Ola and Uber did not agree…so our Commissioner has advised them (drivers) to approach the Labour Court.” Over one lakh drivers attached to two cab aggregators began an indefinite strike in Bengaluru yesterday, demanding better incentives and stopping attachment of new cabs which they said affects their bookings. Hitting back at Reddy, Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola (UTO) Drivers and Owners Association President Tanveer Pasha said “If the Minister is not aware of his responsibility and that of the departments that come under him, he should resign.” Stating that 95 percent of the the vehicles have stopped operating, he said just about five percent were not taking part in the strike and are continuing to operate, without proper information. Incidents of striking drivers obstructing other drivers from operating and thereby causing inconvenience to passengers have also been reported from different parts of the city. Uber in a statement said, “We’re sorry that our service has been disrupted in Bangalore. We’re aware of isolated reports of threats and intimidation from a small group of people. We again call on the authorities to put an end to this illegal behaviour”. “We are committed to ensuring that drivers who wish to work are able to do so, and riders can get from A to B conveniently, reliably and safely,” it said.