Decision follows GMB’s legal victory over Uber, forcing company to defend their record on drivers' employment rights and public safety.
GMB, the driver’s union, has scored an historic victory for workers’ rights and passenger safety after Transport For London (TfL) today refused to renew Uber’s license to operate in the capital.
In October 2016, the Central London Employment Tribunal ruled in GMB's favour - determining that Uber drivers are not self-employed, but workers entitled to basic workers’ rights including holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks. [1]
On Monday September 18 2017, GMB and global consumer group SumOfUs handed in a 100,000-strong mass petition to City Hall calling on Transport for London (TfL) to force Uber to respect workers’ rights or get out of London [2].
The £51 billion San-Francisco transport giant’s license to operate in London was under review having been granted a four month extension in May 2017 and due to expire on September 30th 2017.
72% of Londoners believe that TfL should require Uber to guarantee safeguards such as minimum wage and paid holidays for their drivers, according to a poll of adults in London conducted by YouGov on behalf of SumOfUs. [3]
Today, TfL has listened to the GMB and told Uber its license will not be renewed.
Maria Ludkin, GMB Legal Director, said:
“This historic decision is a victory for GMB’s campaign to ensure drivers are given the rights they are entitled to - and that the public, drivers and passengers are kept safe.
“As a result of sustained pressure from drivers and the public, Uber has suffered yet another defeat - losing its license to operate in London.
“It's about time the company faced up to the huge consequences of GMB's landmark employment tribunal victory - and changed its ways.
“No company can be behave like it's above the law, and that includes Uber. No doubt other major cities will be looking at this decision and considering Uber’s future on their own streets.
“GMB will always challenge bogus self-employment and tackling exploitation.
“This decision vindicates our campaign and should be a wake-up call to a company that has for far too long been in denial."
ENDS
Contact: Maria Ludkin on 07956 632 657 or GMB press office on 07958 156846 or at [email protected]
Case studies available for interview
Picture of petition hand in attached
Notes to Editors:
[1] GMB Wins Monumental Victory In Employment Case Of The Year Against Uber (28 October 2016)
Similar contracts masquerading as bogus self employment will all be reviewed says GMB
Read more: http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/GMB-wins-uber-case
GMB Fight 'Employment Case Of The Year' Against Uber (20 July 2016)
The union found that a member working exclusively for Uber received just £5.03 per hour in August after costs and fees were taken into account, significantly below the national minimum wage of £7.20. Lawyers for the drivers also argued that Uber acts unlawfully by frequently deducting sums from drivers’ pay, often without informing the drivers in advance, including when customers make complaints.
Read more: http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/gmb-fight-against-uber
[2] Uber: Respect Workers Rights Or Get Out Of London- 106,139 signatures
https://actions.sumofus.org/a/london-uber-workers-rights
[3] Poll: 72% figure is from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,045 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12th - 14th September 2017. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all London adults (aged 18+). Asked “Do you believe Transport for London (TfL) should or should not require Uber to guarantee certain safeguards for Uber drivers such as minimum wage, holiday/ sick pay etc.?”, 72% responded “TfL should require these safeguards”, 16% responded “TfL should not require these safeguards”, and 12% responded “Don’t know”.
