Cabbies issue claims over right to minimum wage


A few weeks ago (as anticipated in Labour Research, September 2015, page 26), four employment tribunal claims were issued in London against the company that owns the taxi service app, Uber. There are many more potential claimants and more claims are likely to be issued.


Uber is the app used on smartphones which connects potential passengers with taxi drivers. Passengers make payment for the journey to Uber and Uber then pays drivers. 


The claimants, Uber drivers, allege that Uber failed to pay them the minimum wage or provide holiday pay, and that unauthorised deductions were made from wages. 


Law firm Leigh Day and Co are representing the drivers on behalf of the GMB union. Nigel Mackay, an employment lawyer at Leigh Day and Co, said that “we believe that Uber owes the same responsibilities towards its drivers as any other company does to its workers,”adding that Uber drivers should not be denied the right to the minimum wage and paid leave.


There may also be potential health and safety issues as it has been alleged that Uber does not ensure drivers take rest breaks or work to a maximum number of hours per week.


Steve Garelick, a branch secretary from the Professional Drivers Branch of the GMB, said that “despite our best efforts, Uber are continuing to ignore drivers’ needs” and that the union hoped that “more drivers will approach us for this remarkable action”.

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/uber-drivers-are-entitled-to-rights-at-work

https://www.leighday.co.uk/News/2015/October-2015/First-formal-legal-proceedings-issued-in-Uber