CHICAGO — Rideshare drivers rallied for better pay, job security and safety Thursday on the city’s North Side.

Uber and Lyft drivers gathered Thursday outside the Uber Hub on North Avenue to protest unfair working conditions and low pay.

“Drivers are facing dangerous conditions on the job and the company has refused to make changes to help us,” said Lori Simmons, a rideshare driver organizer with the Chicago Gig Alliance.

The workers are asking for fair wages, safer conditions when it comes to picking up riders and fair termination and suspension practices.

Several drivers spoke about incidents where they felt unsafe or were attacked by the riders.

“The passenger told me she had a weapon and asked me to use an alley and then I noticed another car had been following us because they were planning on carjacking me,” said Jocilyn Floyd.

Earlier this week, Chicago police issued a community alert about armed robberies and aggravated vehicular robberies. Six of 10 victims were Uber drivers.

Other drivers say that while crimes have gone up, their pay has gone down.

“Ever since Uber entered the market, pay has gone down steadily. So people have to work longer hours for the same pay they made three or four years ago. That’s not right. There’s no job that anybody can go to that their pay decreases year after year,” said JC Muhammad, a rideshare driver also with the Chicago Gig Alliance.

Ald. Mike Rodriguez and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez came out in support of the drivers, both stating their support of an ordinance that would require the companies provide fair wages, due process for deactivation to driver accounts and better safety protocols.

“Our commitment in City Council (is) to fulfill the campaign commitments to make sure that safety is a reality for Uber and Lyft drivers in this gig economy,” Sigcho-Lopez said.

Added Rodriquez: “We need a living wage, but also we need safety and we need a fair work environment.”

Uber released a statement in response to the protest:

“The City of Chicago’s own study released last week shows that all full time drivers make more than $20 an hour after expenses and a quarter of drivers make more than $29/hour after expenses.”

Uber’s response did not address issues with safety.

Uber is having a shareholders meeting next week where workers hope some of these issues will be addressed.