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[snoop1130]

British drivers to defend employment rights at Uber tribunal

 

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Two drivers were set to defend a British tribunal decision giving them workers' rights at Uber on Thursday, the latest threat to the taxi app's business model which is battling to keep its licence in London.

 

The pair successfully argued last year that the Silicon Valley firm exerted significant control over them to provide an on-demand taxi service and had responsibilities in terms of the working rights it provides.

 

"Uber's a transportation services company marketing itself to customers as giving a uniform experience and pricing of what it means 'to take an Uber'," the General Secretary of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain, which is representing the drivers, Jason Moyer-Lee told Reuters.

 

"In order to deliver their service it has to hire workers. They're workers rather than in business on their own account," he said.

 

Uber said at the tribunal on Wednesday that its drivers were self-employed, like those at long-standing rivals.

 

The self-employed in Britain are entitled to only basic protections such as health and safety, but those deemed to be workers receive benefits such as the minimum wage, paid holidays and rest breaks.

 

The tribunal is due to end on Thursday with the judge unlikely to deliver a decision for several weeks.

 

Last week London stripped the San Francisco-based business of its licence to operate, citing the firm's approach to reporting serious criminal offences, although its 40,000 drivers will still provide rides until an appeals process ends, which could take several months.

 

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Kate Holton)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-9-28

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

British tax law should show the way to stop this blatant exploitation of workers rights by another American firm.

As a self employed worker tax laws state you cannot work for only one employer (or one rip-off agency).

I expect British law will produce justice on this.

Zero hours contracts should also be outlawed.

 

Kick out the App scammers!

 

 

 

 

 

[Belzybob]

What continues to amaze me is that this "ride sharing app" nonsense gets dragged out time and time again, and the mainstream media seem to go along with it. It's just a mini-cab style operation that takes bookings electronically, just like many legit taxi operations.

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

20 hours ago, Belzybob said:

What continues to amaze me is that this "ride sharing app" nonsense gets dragged out time and time again, and the mainstream media seem to go along with it. It's just a mini-cab style operation that takes bookings electronically, just like many legit taxi operations.

Well you are correct, but somehow it made the "inventors" in California multi millionaires.

I know a few very wealthy minicab company owners, but all that this lot have done is "WWW" it to be worldwide without driver job security, tax, NI, holiday pay etc etc etc.

 

I hope their bubble bursts.