Around 200 drivers, belonging to all faiths, from all corners of Mumbai attended an Iftar party organised by the Maharashtra App-based Transport Workers Union (MAT) yesterday in Mumbai. Many of them carpooled in cabs driven by their comrades to arrive at a parking lot near the domestic airport terminal in Mumbai which doubled up as a venue for the Iftar party.

Their trade is a lonely one, with busy cars plying on far flung Mumbai roads in peak hour traffic. It was hence not surprising that many of them seemed to be meeting each other after a long time and a joyous, festive spirit permeated the air with much back-clapping, embracing and loud raucous laughter. A simple spread of Samosas, jalebis, fruits and kababs had been laid out on long, communal tables for the drivers. Close to 7 PM when it was time for Maghrib, a confusion on how to sound the azaan occurred with people scrambling to connect their mobiles to the speakers. Ultimately it fell on one of the drivers to sound the evening call for prayer. A hushed silence descended all around us as the azaan rang out. Someone reached out for an Iftar jalebi in front. It was time to break the fast. The silence persisted. For those who were not observing the roza, the act of eating together had turned into a solemn moment.

A driver who identified himself as Brahmin spoke to SabrangIndia while relishing the vegetarian iftari served to him. As an app-based driver who has seen his income dramatically plummet in the last few years with narrow margins, high costs of fuel and high living costs, he said that the union gives them bargaining power. Referring to the inter-faith gathering around him, he said , “if our car develops a snag late at night , these are the very people who come to help us out. I am a Brahmin but that is inside my home, in my private life , outside I am just a human being like everyone else here. Politics divides us. It is a ***** (uses a common expletive) thing”. 

Posters and stickers, created by CJP in collaboration with digital artist Smishdesigns were distributed in the Iftar party as stickers. They proved to be a hit among the drivers.

Two Sikh drivers who had come all the way from Kharghar in Navi Mumbai appreciated the effort and said that while on ground there is widespread unity among citizens, some people want to create an artificial divide. One of them said, “Such posters are needed to remind people of this unity in the face of manufactured controversies and attempts to vitiate the atmosphere.”

The iftar was hosted on the premises of the Mumbai chapter of Airport Aviation Employees Union (AAEU) and was attended by Nitin Jadhav, the All India joint general secretary of AAEU. Also present was Secretary, CJP, Ms Teesta Setalvad, Prashant Bhagesh Sawardekar, President, MAT and Uday Kumar Ambonkar, General Secretary, MAT.

Speaking eloquently, Mr Jadhav said, “Our space will be made available for this event every year. I am an insignificant person, this is holy work, I will always support this effort to bring people together”

Holding up the poster, Mr Ambonkar , who is also a member of the national committee of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, said , “ look at this tiranga coloured rose. It is in our hands now. It is up to us to uphold the unity of the nation “

Speaking to Sabrang India, Teesta Setalvad said, “It is CJP’s belief that counter-communities like kisan sabhas , feminist groups and labour unions among others can serve as a bulwark against divisive politics. We are taking our message of peace to members of these communities and helping them navigate disinformation and hate speech that is flooding the airwaves all around us”

For many people present the bonhomie was an everyday reality. For those of us invited to observe the celebration, the iftar meal was a welcome respite from the steadily rising drum roll of communal violence all around us.

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The Maharashtra App Based Transport Workers Union has filed a petition before the Bombay High Court demanding regulation of aggregators, providing insurance to the workers as well as seeking transparency in algorithms of the apps. The plea is before the bench of Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice SV Marane and was heard on January 10 and will next be heard on March 15.

The state government, Union government as well as Uber, Ola, Swiggy and Zomato have been impleaded as respondents in the petition.

The MAT Union was formed in 2020 and represents Cab Drivers, Food and Goods Delivery Persons and all the Workers who are connected with the applications based performance and service Industry. They seek social security benefits and have complained of reduction in payouts, mental harassment and unfair deactivation policy

The union has pleaded that directions be issued to the state government to regulate Aggregators Businesses as mandated by Motor Vehicle Act as well as to frame rules to regulate aggregators business of Delivery of food and goods.

Their other prayers include transparency in working hours, payments, contract, insurance and implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 as well as payment of bare minimum wage commensurate to a living wage for 8 hours a day.

In the interim, they have sought directions to the government to hold joint meeting of stakeholders to consider their suggestions with regards to framing of rules and to implement Motor Vehicle Guidelines 2020.

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Private cab-driver union Maharashtra App-based Transport Workers’ Union (MAT) wrote a letter on June 2, 2022 to Thane police seeking support in intimating Ola company about the dire need of a security code.

Addressed to Kalwa division Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Venkat Andhale the letter said, “We urge that you and your department Sir initiate a communication with the Ola company to hold them legally liable and responsible for this heinous crime that was committed on a lonely road on an Ola driver, while on duty.”

By crime, MAT President Prashant Sawardekar referred to the May 29 incident wherein 27-year old Muhammad Ali was brutally killed on-duty at a remote road in Diva. Four adults and one minor boy were arrested on May 30, 2022 for the alleged murder. According to the Daighar police, the accused Atish Bhosale, Omkar Kasekar, Harshul Sheikh, Prashant Periaswami and one minor were in an inebriated state when they attacked the 27-year-old driver.

While the union thanked the Thane police for prompt action, it also appealed for support for MAT’s longstanding demand for drivers’ security. Additionally, the union asked for a careful mapping of remote and uninhabited stretches of roads such as that in Diva under Andhale’s jurisdiction. Proper street lighting, CCTC cameras and police kiosks are also required.

“Specifically, we wish to bring to your attention the deplorable, illegal and mala fide practice of the Ola company in trying to ‘flash’ the driver’s records the moment such an incident takes place,” said Sawardekar.

What is flashing?

Flashing is when the company deletes ride-details and the number of rides taken up by an employee. Doing so often leaves a blank record on driver performances and can lead to some people getting blacklisted. In Muhammad Ali’s case as well, the driver’s records were flashed even though the youth had taken up 3-4 rides that day. The union successfully got a record of his work before it was flashed.

A day after the incident, MAT leaders approached Andhale and discussed this tactic by cab companies, be it Ola or Uber. Leaders said companies do this to claim that the person was not working for the company when a certain incident occurred. This also affects employee compensation.

“We are appealing to you to communicate to the Ola company that this is the case of a gruesome murder committed on a driver of a company while on duty. The company functions because of the drivers it employs and is liable in law and practice to step in and pay reparation for drivers who lose their lives, or face accidents or damage, on duty,” he said.

Further, previous attempts to talk to the Ola company for social security and accountability proved unsuccessful. Earlier, Mumbra driver Asif died in an accident in Andheri. The MAT union provided the required documents to the company, however, the family is yet to receive the insurance. This process became harder after Covid-19 since the company closed its offices in Mumbai.

“In terms of security of the Ola-Uber taxi service—for members of the public and drivers alike – while the company has an available mechanism of an SOS number for passengers, the SOS facility for drivers has been rendered unworkable. This has further endangered the lives and operational functioning of our drivers,” he said.

The MAT said that members will soon approach the labour department and other government authorities as well with a sustained campaign calling for a security code of drivers in general.

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Maharashtra App-based Transport Workers’ Union (MAT) members on May 31, 2022 demanded the implementation of a social security code for private cab drivers in Ola and Uber companies. Failing this, it demanded that the companies cease their work, at least in Maharashtra.

After the recent murder of Ola driver Muhammad Ali in Diva in late May 2022, the driver community is united and up in arms. While  the union thanked the Shil Daighar police station on Tuesday for the speedy arrest of five accused in the murder, it still condemned the company for trying to ‘flash’ the driver’s records.

What is flashing?

Flashing is when the company deletes ride-details and the number of rides taken up by an employee. Doing so often leaves a blank record on driver performances and can lead to some people getting blacklisted. In Muhammad Ali’s case as well, the driver’s records were flashed even though the youth had taken up 3-4 rides that day.

Here, MAT President Sawardekar said the union successfully got a record of his work before it was flashed. This information was submitted to the police as well for finding the accused. According to the union, this tactic is often used by cab companies, be it Ola or Uber, allegedly to claim that the person was not working for the company when a certain incident occurred. This also affects employee compensation.

“As per the accidental insurance assured by Ola, drivers must get ₹ 5 lakh in case of an accident. Here, there was a murder, so they will need to pay much more,” said Sawardekar.

However, he remains sceptical on whether the company will cooperate. He recalled how a Mumbra driver Asif died in an accident in Andheri. The MAT union provided the required documents to the company, yet the family is yet to receive the insurance.

Accordingly, Sawardekar called for a strict investigation against Ola and Uber companies for tampering with details. A crowd of nearly 200 people assembled outside the police station in support of this.

What about driver safety?

Central Line Zone Union leader and MAT member Haider Ali Siddiqui said that the recent incident in Diva highlights the fact that drivers do not have any security.

“When it comes to our security neither Ola, nor the police, nor the government takes responsibility. Our PVC, face id and contact details are given to the customer. We do not know if the administration will stand with us. But people must understand that a driver’s life is as important as any other. We ask the government, authorities and the companies in particular, what compensation do you have for us?” he asked.

In Ali’s case, he demanded that the company take responsibility for the compensation. Further, he said that if a driver dies on-duty the companies should provide enough compensation to sustain their children’s welfare for the near-future.

Ali was attacked and assaulted by his drunken customers. However, Ali had no means of sending a distress signal. Union leaders said that unlike the customer SOS signal, the driver’s distress button does not work. Locals claim that this is the fifth incident where a driver – be it a cab driver or an autorickshaw driver – was attacked or murdered.

The lack of an SOS signal or flashing are not the only problems. Other drivers at the protest spoke about how the Ola company does not raise complaint numbers. Instead it asks drivers to note down the time of the complaint. When the drivers enquire after 15 days, they are told there is no data of such grievances.

MAT Treasurer Kiran Anand spoke about how he had a rental booking from Navi Mumbai to Virar. At night, the client completed the ride and the fare had reached around ₹3,350. The client claimed to have paid Ola money when the system showed cash.

On contacting Ola, Anand was advised to drop the ride. However, when he approached the Ola office, he was told that the trip was void even though the company had taken a commission of ₹ 1,500. He only got the money when he approached Sawardekar and the process of unionisation began. 

To ensure justice, on Tuesday afternoon, several Union (MATT) representatives met with senior police officers from Kalwa Division  ACP Venkat Andhale promised to flag the issue of the murdered Ola taxi driver being on duty with the company when he was attacked and done away with.  Police investigations have clearly revealed that the victim was working on the day of the attack because the accused (who had been arrested yesterday) had booked a ride. The MAT will soon approach the labour department and other government authorities with a sustained campaign  calling for a security code of drivers in general and reparation for the slain , Muhammad Ali. Failing this, Sawardekar said an agitation and protest will be organised that will also demand due compensation for Ali’s family. Ali hailed from Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Listen to driver Mohammad Kaifi with six years of experience talk about qorkers’ concerns about the lack of safety.

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