NYC Uber drivers petition for in-app tipping

Tuesday, 12 Aug, 2016 0

Uber drivers in New York are calling for an e-tipping function to be integrated into the Uber app.

The Independent Drivers Guild, which represents NYC Uber drivers, launched an online petition Thursday, which has quickly surpassed 2,000 e-signatures.

The Guild says tipping has always been part of the traditional taxi industry and tips have always formed a big part of the take-home pay for drivers.

"In-app tipping would be a clear path to put thousands of dollars back into drivers’ pockets," said Jim Conigliaro Jr., founder of the guild, which is backed by the Machinists Union.

"Drivers in the industry—especially drivers in the industry before Uber—derived a lot of income from tips. Taxi drivers have always been tipped at the end of ride. It’s always been a part of the for-hire vehicle industry."

Although this is not the first time e-tipping has been proposed, Uber says it sees no reason to integrate it in the app when riders can simply tip a driver with cash at the end of the ride as they would any other taxi service.

"On Uber, tips are not included, nor are they expected or required. Riders tell us that one of the things they like most about Uber is that it’s hassle-free. Riders are free to offer tips and drivers are welcome to accept them, as has always been our policy," said Uber spokeswoman Alix Anfang in a statement.

below social share icons

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

We work with reliable data providers with global coverage, that guarantee data representativeness as well as compliance with International Personal...

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston....

Offering the most powerful portfolio in the industry, our 30 brands and 8,000+ properties across 139 countries and territories give...

From the beginning, ATI’s philosophy has been “innovation, not duplication.“ Developing specialized technology solutions to connect over 30,000 accommodation, attracti...

Chargebacks911 offers scalable solutions that are customized for any business of any size in any industry. With the flexibility to...

River cruising is a treat for the senses, allowing you to see, touch, feel and experience the world like never...

In the heart of Europe, in one of the most innovative cities in the world, at the centre of business,...

The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) is the only organization that promotes metro Detroit regionally, nationally and...

Our leadership is bold. Our agility thrives on open innovation and we embrace the new, whether it’s diversity, trends, challenges....

With long periods of Thailand’s History, according to evidences and studies, Sukhothai was the first kingdom of Thailand. At that time, an early Thai...

The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors’ experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools...