Uber drivers launch fresh strike in Kochi
Uber drivers in Kochi have launched a fresh strike after the company failed to attend scheduled talks regarding pay revisions and working conditions. The Online Taxi Drivers Union is demanding standardized fares and better commission structures, with further mediation planned by the Labour Department.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing labor tensions between gig economy platforms and drivers in India, reflecting broader global challenges regarding worker rights in the ride-hailing sector.
Drivers signed up with leading ride-hailing taxi aggregator Uber launched another round of strike in Kochi on Friday (July 31, 2026) reiterating their long-pending demands. The Online Taxi Drivers Union (OTDU) claimed that around 2,000 drivers in the city have gone offline from the platform as part of the agitation.
The union decided to launch a fresh strike alleging that the global platform did not honour its promise to hold talks with the drivers on July 30 to discuss their demands including pay revision. “The company had agreed to hold talks on July 30 following a days-long State-wide protest staged by us last week. However, they refused to come forward for a meeting citing security issues. Hence, we decided to go on strike again,” Sahir K.T. President, OTDU, said. The company has not issued any response on the allegation yet.
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