Uber Waives Delivery Fees For Restaurants Owned By African Americans Until The End Of 2020

Restaurants owned by African Americans, who have partnered with Uber Eats, will have no charges for delivery until the end of 2020.

The delivery service app announced the incentive amid calls to end institutional racism spurned by recent protests against the police officers who killed George Floyd, an African American.

In an email sent to its customers Thursday (June 11), Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said that the company is waiving delivery fees for Black-owned restaurants to support the community. The app will also highlight a list of African American restaurants in specific areas to tap more customers.

“Uber stands in solidarity with the Black community and with peaceful protests against the injustice and racism that have plagued our nation for too long,” said Khosrowshahi in the email. “My hope is that if each of us recommits to doing all we can to counter bigotry wherever we see it, the change will follow.”

Besides the fees being waived, Uber pledged $1 million to the Equal Justice Initiative and Center for Policing Equity. Khosrowshahi also committed to hiring a more diverse staff. A company report from 2019 revealed that 45% of Uber's workers are Caucasian, 33% are Asian, 9% are African American, and 8% are Hispanic.

However, some Uber Eats customers want the app to also remove the "city executive order fee" that it passes on to its clients.

According to the Observer, cities like New Jersey, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., charge 10 to 20% for the city executive order fee. Clients using Uber Eats get a pop-up message when they check out their orders, showing the effect some restaurant owners feel because this law.

Khosrowshahi and Uber Eats have yet to address the city executive order fee. However, in his statement, the CEO acknowledged that waiving the delivery is not enough.

“But we plan to work day in and day out to improve, learn, and grow as a company,” Khosrowshahi said. “Lastly, let me speak clearly and unequivocally: Black Lives Matter.”