FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2025
U.S., U.K., Nigerian, and Uruguayan Gig Workers Call Joint May Day Strike & Boycott
Southern Gig Drivers (U.S.), IWGB Private Hire Drivers Branch (U.K.), AUATON (Nigeria), and UCTRADU Sindicato (Uruguay) Unite in International Action
On May 1, 2025—International Workers’ Day, gig workers across the U.S. South, United Kingdom, and Nigeria are calling for a global strike and public boycott of rideshare and delivery apps. The action includes drivers from Southern Gig Drivers, DMV Drivers Alliance, Atlanta Rideshare Drivers Union, and Houston Limousine Association in the U.S. with support from Colorado Independent Drivers United, alongside the IWGB Private Hire Drivers Branch in the U.K., the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), and UCTRADU Sindicato of Uruguay.
Together, these organizations are demanding fair pay, job security, and dignity on the job in the face of algorithmic control, exploitation, and anti-worker laws. Read the full demands at https://southernworker.org/assemblies/gig/may1/.
Watch & share the joint video on Instagram or TikTok
WHY NOW?
This international strike call comes amid a rising wave of instability, repression, and corporate attacks on workers’ rights:
- Immigrant and informal workers are scapegoated while their labor remains essential
- Governments are cutting public jobs and outsourcing services
- Gig companies flood the market to suppress wages and tighten algorithmic control
- Union rights, protest protections, and local labor laws are being rolled back
In the U.S., organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) push copy-paste laws that misclassify gig workers, preempt local regulations, and suppress union power. These models are exported globally, threatening platform workers everywhere.
This strike is part of a growing global response. Earlier this year, driver unions from India and Costa Rica signed a solidarity letter supporting Nashville drivers who were retaliated against after engaging in a legal protest. From Atlanta to Lagos to London, drivers are getting organized. The gig economy reflects a global crisis of labor—but workers are fighting back.📣 CALL TO ACTION
We’re calling on:
🚗 Drivers and driver organizations everywhere to sign the pledge and join the May Day strike
✊🏾 Unions, worker centers, social justice organizations, faith communities, and community groups to sign in solidarity, mobilize others, and share this press release
🚫 The public to honor the digital picket line by not using Uber, Lyft, Bolt, Free Now, Ola, DoorDash, or other gig apps on May 1st
🫶 Friends, family, and allies:
– Offer rides to co-workers or neighbors
– Help with grocery runs, errands, or deliveries
– Talk with others about the strike and what it’s about
– Help your community plan ahead and avoid crossing the picket line
📍 Sign the pledge today:
https://southernworker.org/assemblies/gig/may1/WE KNOW PEOPLE RELY ON US
We deliver food, drive elders, and help night workers get home. We know people depend on us—and we care.
That’s why we’re making this call early: so communities can plan ahead and stand with us.
📣 Share this message with your community
🗓️ Make transportation or delivery plans for May 1st
🫂 Support those who rely on the apps with rides on May 1
🚫 Stay off the apps and honor the digital picket lineWHO WE ARE
Southern Gig Drivers (SGD) is a developing industrial council of the Southern Workers Assembly, formed in Fall 2024 to unite and empower rideshare and gig workers across the U.S. South through grassroots, worker-led organizing. Rooted in the tradition of social movement unionism, we fight not just for better pay, but for worker democracy, racial and gender justice, and independent political power. We uphold principles of rank-and-file democracy, organizing the unorganized, and building labor solidarity across borders.
IWGB Private Hire Drivers Branch is a branch of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, a grassroots member-led union representing migrant, precarious and low paid workers.
Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) Lagos is a registered trade union under Nigeria’s Ministry of Labor and an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The Lagos chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) said its members would stay off the apps on International Workers’ Day to demand fair compensation, safer working conditions, and respect for their rights.
UCTRADU Sindicato is Sindicato de conductores de aplicaciones en la defensa de una actividad digna. Nuestra lucha es por una actividad alejada de la explotación de mujeres y hombres (translation: “App Drivers’ Union defending a dignified job. Our fight is for an industry free from the exploitation of women and men.”)
DMV Drivers Alliance is a group of rideshare drivers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia fighting for fair pay, algorithmic transparency, and protection from unjust deactivations. We’re participating in the International May 1st Strike to unite more drivers, raise public awareness, develop new leaders, and build long-term organizing power to put pressure on Uber, Lyft, and lawmakers to meet our demands.
Atlanta Rideshare Drivers Union is striking on May 1st to demand fair pay and better working conditions, uniting with other gig workers and the broader working class in a national display of solidarity. This collective action aims to amplify our call for economic justice and improved labor standards across various sectors of the gig economy and beyond.
Houston Limousine Association is a group of rideshare drivers in Texas organizing for fair pay, algorithmic transparency, and protection from unfair deactivations. We’re joining the International May 1st Strike to grow driver unity, raise awareness, develop leadership, and build long-term organizing power pressure Uber, Lyft, and lawmakers to meet our demands.JOIN US
📣 Whether you’re a driver, worker, organization, or ally, sign the pledge and help build the May Day strike.
📍 Pledge your support today:
https://southernworker.org/assemblies/gig/may1/📞 MEDIA CONTACTS
Southern Gig Drivers (US)
Evi Magnolia
southerngigdrivers@gmail.com | +1 (804) 221-5172
IG: @southerngigdrivers FB: Southern Gig Drivers
IWGB Private Hire Drivers Branch (UK)
Ellie Butcher
press@iwgb.co.uk | +44 7883 887613
IG: @iwgb_drivers FB: IWGB Private Hire Drivers
AUATON (Nigeria)
Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez aka Makavelli
Lagos State Chairman
media_publicity@auatwon.org | +23407055000244
IG: @officialauaton FB: Auatwon Auatwon
UCTRADU Sindicato (Uruguay)
uctradu.uruguay@gmail.com
Twitter: UCTRADU Sindicato | Facebook: UCTRADU
DMV Drivers Alliance (US)Mitchell Yangson
myangson@newvirginiamajority.org | +1 (571) 839-6389
IG: @dmvdriversalliance FB: DMV Drivers Alliance
Atlanta Rideshare Drivers Union
Felipe Martinez
atlantardu@gmail.com |+1 (617) 224-8652
IG: @atlrdu FB: Atlanta Rideshare Drivers Union
Houston Limousine Association
Jose Rodriguez
Theonelimoservice@gmail.com | +1 (346) 260-7348
FB: Houston Limousine Association
