The problem with Uber (and many of these other "gig jobs") is that there are too many drivers. The oversupply of labor keeps wages too low for them to make a living. The only practical solution is for half of the drivers to quit, then each driver would get more passengers, passengers would would be willing to pay higher fares for their rides, and the drivers would get more money per ride.

Any idiot can drive. $5 per hour is plenty. It leaves billions for bigwigs.

“Too many drivers” issue can be solved by better selection/approval process for the drivers and cars. Sometimes the cars and drivers are sketchy.

@Ok - your scheme will only work if Uber wants to reduce the number of drivers. Clearly that is not the case. More drivers increases Uber's level of service and at the same time reduces Uber's costs. More drivers is a big win for Uber. Reducing the number of drivers has to be enforced from outside the company, eg, by the drivers themselves.

How dare Uber force these people to work for such low wages!

In all seriousness though, if they want better working conditions, then they should buy a new car. If they want better pay, then go find another job.

I don't know how much an uber diver makes but generally the worst drivers on the road have Uber or Lyft stickers. They also seem park wherever they want. Take MV for example. The city took 2 parking spots on Dana near Bryant for drop off and pick up, yet Uber always stops on Castro blocking traffic.

I have no sympathy for Uber drivers. Coming here to work from Bakersfield is your choice. Uber won't pay you extra for that.

Also Uber has nearly 1 million drivers, you think they're going to listen to 30 people with another "hey, hey, ho, ho" chant?

I think many of the Uber/Lyft drivers see it as a very part time job. Some are retired, some are students that take riders when they have time, I’ve been with drivers that either live or work in SF and take riders with them on their commute to and from work. Lots of different scenarios as the drivers can have total flexibility on their hours. You don’t get total flexibility so you can do “other things” and also pull high wages. You have to choose.

This is a very unbalanced article and viewpoint. Drivers are choosing willingly to drive for Uber and Lyft because it's their best option to make a living. It's 1M+ jobs that didn't exist prior.

I rode with an Uber driver this weekend who was so upset that he'd have to drive specific shifts in specific areas if he was forced to become an employee. With 1M+ drivers, there are many stories out there and reasons why people drive.

Should we create better, higher paying entry-level jobs? Yes, that would be great and we should focus on that. We should also help drivers get access to the training and skills to qualify for better jobs as we create them.

Does anyone recall the early Uber ad tag-line to attract drivers? “Get your side hustle on” “Work a few hours here a few hours there and make money to take your girlfriend out to dinner”. I didn’t recall Uber ever advertising and promising a living wage, paid time off or benefits. If that’s what you need then please go get a job that offers such. Leave the true gig jobs to those that truly want and need the flexibility they offer. Try to find yourself a job with a fixed schedule, union dues, shared cost for healthcare benefits, We all have choices and are fortunate we do, so please don’t decide to take advantage of your choice and then complain it’s not good enough for you. What you’re looking for was never promised by Uber or Lyft. Leave well enough alone, leave the flexible work for those that choose it and go find another job. Pretty simple concept.....

We all deserve a living wage.