Pro-Corbyn group Momentum is supported drivers in their court battle to prevent Uber overturning a legal ruling confirming their status as workers – securing employment rights and paid holidays.
Following the 24 hour strike earlier this month, Uber drivers are meeting their bosses in court for Uber’s final appeal hearing today and tomorrow.
Uber will aim to reverse a ruling that forced the company to treat its employees as workers rather than independent contractors. The ruling gave Uber drivers basic rights such as the minimum wage, paid holiday and rest breaks.
Momentum, who have also supported ‘McStrike‘ workers, mobilised members to join a demonstration called by the IWGB outside the court. The march will also pass by TFL HQ who have failed to take action over driver exploitation and the University of London where workers are fighting against management outsourcing.
The demonstration was the first to bring together Deliveroo couriers, Uber drivers and university cleaners threatened by outsourcing, with more than 1,000 precarious workers expected to attend.
Today marks the final hearing of the dispute between Uber and its drivers before it heads to the Supreme Court. A victory for the Uber drivers could set the precedent to all employers and workers in the ‘gig economy’.
Natasha Josette, a Momentum spokesperson, said:
Behind the slick PR and shiny technology Uber, Deliveroo and other gig economy companies are geared towards extracting profit by denying workers the minimum wage, holiday pay and other basic rights.
New technology must be used for the benefit of the many, not to exploit workers and generate obscene profits for the few. We’re proud to support the Uber drivers, Deliveroo couriers, university cleaners and other precarious workers.
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Are there any Taxi or Private Hire drivers on PAYE, if so how many.
Excellent point and one which ought to have occurred to me, having heard of a number of different payment arrangements thirty-odd years ago from drivers as I worked on their cars.
Similarly commission can vary from being a self employed salesperson’s whole income to just a small addition to a PAYE wage – and that’s been the case as long as I can remember.
Not sure where the point of principle is exactly in the UK but I do remember seeing a piece on TV about Uber drivers in India committing suicide because of earnings not living up to Uber’s advertising.
Prospective drivers had taken out vehicle purchase loans and were ruined when they couldn’t make the payments.