A claim on behalf of GMB members working for the taxi hailing app Uber, will be issued tomorrow at the London Central Employment Tribunal on behalf of drivers who claim the ride sharing enterprise does not provide them with basic workers’ rights.
Elly Baker, GMB National Officer said, “The first four claims being brought on behalf of GMB members working for Uber. It claims that Uber drivers are workers, that there is a failure by Uber to pay their drivers a national minimum wage or provide any form of holiday pay.
Further claims will be issued on behalf of GMB member drivers in the coming weeks. They will ask the Employment Tribunal to hear all of the claims together.
GMB claims that Uber frequently deducts sums from its drivers’ pay, without telling them in advance, including where customers make complaints. It also alleges that one claimant’s contract was terminated after he highlighted how easy it was for drivers to upload false insurance documents to Uber, in an attempt to demonstrate, “serious concerns about the company’s procedure for checking the documents provided by drivers.”
Steve Garelick, GMB professional drivers branch secretary commented on the moves: “Despite our best efforts Uber are continuing to ignore drivers’ needs. They have now forced a contract on drivers who are no longer partners but customers and are failing to cap driver intake further eroding the facility to earn a reasonable income.
“Drivers have little interaction with management who’s preference is to respond on a message based ticket system. This shows disdain for the drivers. GMB hope more drivers will approach us for this remarkable action.”
Nigel Mackay, a lawyer in the employment team that is representing the drivers explained: “We understand that this will be the first time legal proceedings against Uber have been issued in the UK employment tribunals.
“We believe that Uber owes the same responsibilities towards its drivers as any other company does to its workers. Uber drivers should not be denied the right to minimum wage and paid leave,” Mackay continued.
Uber continues to be a popular service in London, a fact that is angering taxi drivers and has led to challenges in the High Court over the apps legality and has prompted protests on the streets of the city. The courts have ruled that the app is legal and City Hall currently shows no sign that it will step in to impose regulations on the business.
Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.
