A planned strike by app-based gig workers in Bengaluru, intended to last for three days, largely failed to materialize on its first day, with services from major platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, and Uber continuing with minimal disruption. The protest, called by the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), was scheduled from July 15 to July 17.
Strike Call Meets with Muted Response
The federation had demanded a base fare of Rs 100 for two-wheelers and Rs 150 for four-wheelers, alongside other benefits like accident insurance and social security. However, the call for a work stoppage saw very limited participation across the city. Observers noted that food delivery and ride-hailing services operated almost normally, with only a slight reduction in the availability of delivery executives in a few pockets.
Shaik Salauddin, the national general secretary of IFAT, acknowledged the low turnout. He attributed it primarily to the fear of retaliation from the aggregator companies. Many workers, he explained, were apprehensive that participating in the strike would lead to their IDs being blocked or deactivated by the platforms, threatening their immediate livelihood.
Challenges in Mobilizing a Dispersed Workforce
The event highlights the significant challenges faced by unions in organizing collective action within India's vast gig economy. The workforce is highly fragmented, directly engaged with algorithms rather than a traditional management structure, and often operates under constant financial pressure. This makes sustained, widespread strikes difficult to execute.
While the strike did not achieve its goal of halting services, it succeeded in bringing renewed attention to the ongoing demands of gig workers. The core issues of fair pay, transparency in algorithms, and access to social security benefits remain unresolved points of contention between worker collectives and the tech platforms.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Gig Worker Advocacy
The fizzling out of the Bengaluru strike suggests that future advocacy efforts may need to adapt their strategies. Unions might focus more on legal and policy advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and building stronger, localized support networks among workers to overcome the fear of platform retaliation.
The incident underscores a critical tension in the modern digital economy: the struggle for rights and recognition by a workforce that powers essential urban services, yet remains largely invisible and vulnerable to the terms set by technology platforms. The dialogue between these workers, their representatives, and the companies is likely to intensify as the sector continues to grow.
