Travel will be severely affected on Valentine’s Day as thousands of drivers from Uber, Bolt and Addison Lee are set to strike across the UK.

Drivers will log out of their apps from 4:00pm until 10:00pm to protest poor working conditions as they protest outside City Hall in London, according to The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB).

The union listed factors such as working 70 to 80-hour weeks, high car rents and poor job security, which has “a devastating financial, physical and mental impact on us and our families”.

Chair for the IWGB’s Private Hire Drivers Branch Nader Awaad claimed that Uber’s systems sends out the same trip to a number of drivers and the one charging cheapest fare gets it, leaving workers “having to fight each other for the same job”.

Awaad said: “Up and down the country, drivers whose lives have been torn apart by apps like Uber are saying the same thing – it’s time for us to take back the wheel.

“The government and licensing authorities have abandoned us to the mercy of these companies.

“We are left with no choice but to come together and take action ourselves. This log-off on the 14th has reignited drivers’ faith that by uniting we can transform this industry for the better.”

Driver Helio Santos told The Independent “we have become slaves to the app”, as he works 60 to 70 hour weeks to support a family income alongside his wife who works in the NHS.

He added that drivers reportedly will bid for the same trip to offer the lowest fare to make a living, which leaves no financial certainty.

An Uber spokesperson said: “As workers, all Uber drivers are guaranteed to earn at least the national Living wage when taking trips, with Uber topping up their earnings if they ever fall below this level. The majority of Uber drivers can and do earn much more.

“Uber drivers have the freedom to work where and when they want and have access to industry leading rights such as holiday pay and a pension, as well as formal representation through GMB Union.”