by
Tom Slee
45
On the Move with Uber
0
terms
3
notes
57
For many economists the story was simple and the villain was clear: “regulatory capture” by those taxi medallion owners who suck all the money out of the taxi system without delivering value. Take them out of the picture, improve efficiency by better matching drivers with customers to cut down on the dead time between rides, and we have a new age for urban transit.
For many economists the story was simple and the villain was clear: “regulatory capture” by those taxi medallion owners who suck all the money out of the taxi system without delivering value. Take them out of the picture, improve efficiency by better matching drivers with customers to cut down on the dead time between rides, and we have a new age for urban transit.
59
Before this most recent trial, Uber CFO Brent Callinicos mentioned in a meeting with potential investors that Uber could easily raise rates to between 25% and 30%. Venture capitalist Mike Novogratz asked him a question: “You’ve got happy employees, you’ve got happy customers, you’ve got happy shareholders. The holy triumvirate are all really excited about your company. Why are you going to risk that and push the employees’ salary down 5%?” Callinicos responded “because we can."
it's about powerrrr. even the execs openly admit it
Before this most recent trial, Uber CFO Brent Callinicos mentioned in a meeting with potential investors that Uber could easily raise rates to between 25% and 30%. Venture capitalist Mike Novogratz asked him a question: “You’ve got happy employees, you’ve got happy customers, you’ve got happy shareholders. The holy triumvirate are all really excited about your company. Why are you going to risk that and push the employees’ salary down 5%?” Callinicos responded “because we can."
it's about powerrrr. even the execs openly admit it
67
Uber has taken advantage of its drivers’ vulnerability by imposing more and more strenuous rules. Drivers must accept 90% of ride requests or they get a notification to “Please improve your acceptance rate if you want to continue to use the Uber platform.” Drivers claim to have been deactivated for being critical of the company on Twitter.
can set arbitrary metrics and drivers basically have to acquiesce. no regulators stepping in here and, as of yet, no established union structures to advocate on their behalf
also remember they must keep their rating really high (no appeal process, since there isnt a work contract)
Uber has taken advantage of its drivers’ vulnerability by imposing more and more strenuous rules. Drivers must accept 90% of ride requests or they get a notification to “Please improve your acceptance rate if you want to continue to use the Uber platform.” Drivers claim to have been deactivated for being critical of the company on Twitter.
can set arbitrary metrics and drivers basically have to acquiesce. no regulators stepping in here and, as of yet, no established union structures to advocate on their behalf
also remember they must keep their rating really high (no appeal process, since there isnt a work contract)