Member Article

Uber in battle over holidays and sick pay as London cabbies strike back

US rideshare giant Uber is facing more resistance in the capital after two London cabbies have taken the firm to an employment tribunal.

At the tribunal proceedings, which kicked off yesterday, the two drivers are claiming that Uber is operating unlawfully by not offering holidays and sick pay to its employees, of which there are over 30,000 in London alone.

However, the global tech firm has always argued that its drivers work on a self-employed, flexible basis and earn more than the minimum wage.

It marks yet more controversy for Uber in the city after long facing staunch opposition from London’s legion of black cab drivers, who view the app as a threat to their livelihoods and profession.

Annie Powell, who is an employment lawyer at Leigh Day, believes the claim could have wide implications for the legion of Uber drivers across England and Wales.

She added: “We are seeing a creeping erosion of employment rights as companies misclassify their workers as self-employed so as to avoid paying them holiday pay and the national minimum wage.”

A ruling in favour of the two drivers could see a flood of claims across the country and put the firm’s business model under threat.

Responding to the proceedings, Jo Bertram, regional general manager at Uber UK, commented: “More than 30,000 people in London drive with our app and this case only involves a very small number.

“The main reason people choose to partner with Uber is so they can become their own boss, pick their own hours and work completely flexibly.

“Many partner-drivers have left other lines of work and chosen to partner with Uber for this very reason. In fact two thirds of new partner-drivers joining the Uber platform have been referred by another partner.”