Estonian Bolt Drivers Strike Over 'Unsustainable' Fare Cuts
Taxi drivers for the ride-hailing service Bolt in Estonia's Ida-Viru County have initiated a work stoppage by rejecting ride requests, protesting the company's fixed low fares which they claim have slashed their earnings by up to half since new software was introduced.
- —Bolt taxi drivers in Ida-Viru County have initiated a strike protesting the company's fixed, low fares, which they claim have significantly reduced their earnings.
- —Drivers report that since the end of last year, fares have been set at some of the lowest rates nationwide, with some experiencing a reduction of up to half compared to previous tariffs.
- —The protest involves drivers rejecting ride requests, with reports of 30-40 drivers participating in Jõhvi and Kohtla-Järve, making Bolt taxis difficult to obtain.
- —Bolt maintains that the drivers' actions have not impacted the service's overall functioning in the region and states they are developing a new system to allow drivers more pricing flexibility.
- —Drivers argue that the new software implemented last autumn led to the fare reductions and that the current rates do not cover their expenses, while Bolt suggests higher prices deter price-sensitive customers.
Recap
The strike in Ida-Viru County is a direct consequence of a platform-driven pricing model clashing with driver viability. Bolt's strategy to attract price-sensitive customers through fixed low fares has rendered the service economically unsustainable for its drivers, exposing a fundamental conflict in the gig economy's operational logic. While Bolt frames this as a balancing act, drivers perceive it as a direct threat to their livelihood, a dispute likely to escalate without a significant change in the compensation structure.